James 1
1 James, a slave of God and of Sovereign Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are in the Dispersion: Greetings.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are scattered abroad: Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, whenever you fall into various trials,
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you experience various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance;
because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 but let that endurance have a complete work, so that you may be perfect and complete, falling short in nothing.
And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from the giving God, who gives to all liberally and does not reproach, and it will be given to him.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 However, let him ask in faith, with no doubting, because he who doubts is like a sea wave driven and tossed by the wind—
But he must ask in faith without doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed about.
7 such a man should not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
9 Now the lowly brother should glory in his high position,
The lowly brother should rejoice in being exalted,
10 but the rich brother in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of wild grass.
and the rich man should rejoice in being made low, because he will pass away like a flower of grass.
11 For the sun rises with its burning heat and withers the grass, and its flower falls off and the beauty of its face perishes. Just so the rich man will be withered in his undertakings.
For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass, and its flower falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.
12 A man who endures testing is blessed, because upon becoming approved he will receive the crown of the life that the Lord has promised to those loving Him.
Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 Let no one, upon being tempted, say, “I am being tempted by God,” because God is untemptable by evil, so He Himself does not tempt anyone.
No one should say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God is not tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
14 But each one is tempted by his own craving, being taken in tow and enticed.
But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.
15 Then the craving, upon conceiving, gives birth to sin, and the sin, upon completion, delivers death.
And when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And when sin is fully grown, it brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers:
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
17 every good giving and every perfect gift is from Above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
18 Having willed it, He brought us forth by a word of truth, so that we might be a sort of firstfruits of His products.
Of his own will he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 So then, my beloved brothers, let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
So then, my beloved brothers, everyone should be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
20 because a man's anger does not achieve God's righteousness.
For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore, laying aside all filthiness and overflow of evil, receive with meekness the implanted Word which is able to save your souls.
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and rampant wickedness, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 Further, become word doers and not just hearers, deceiving yourselves.
But be doers of the word and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
23 Because if anyone is a law hearer and not a doer, the same is like a man observing his physical face in a mirror;
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror.
24 for he observes himself, then goes away and promptly forgets what he is like.
For he looks at himself and goes away, and then immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But he who looks carefully into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, he—not being a forgetful hearer but a work doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts. He will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, not bridling his tongue but deceiving his heart, his religion is useless.
If anyone among you considers himself to be religious but does not bridle his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their adversity; to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Pure and undefiled religion before God our Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
