James 1
1 This letter comes from James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is sent to the twelve tribes scattered abroad. Best wishes to you!
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, greets the twelve tribes that are living abroad.
2 My friends, choose to stay happy even when all kinds of troubles come your way,
My friends, whatever trials you may face from time to time, always regard them as a reason for rejoicing,
3 because you know that endurance comes from dealing with challenges to your trust in God.
knowing, as you do, that the testing of your faith develops endurance.
4 Let your endurance become as strong as possible, so that you will be completely mature, without any shortcomings.
And let endurance do its work perfectly, so that you may be altogether perfect, and in no respect lacking.
5 If any of you need wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to everyone without holding back.
If any one of you lacks wisdom, they should ask wisdom from the God who gives freely to everyone without reproach, and it will be given to them.
6 But when you ask, remember to trust in God—don't have any doubts. Someone who doubts is like the crashing waves of the sea, tossed about and driven by the wind.
But they should ask with confidence, never doubting; for the person who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven here and there at the mercy of the wind –
7 Nobody like that should think they'll get anything from the Lord—
Such a person must not expect that they will receive anything from the Lord,
8 their minds think every which way, and they're unstable in whatever they do.
vacillating as they are, irresolute at every turn.
9 Believers who are born poor should take pride in the high position they've been given,
Let a follower in humble circumstances be proud of their exalted position,
10 while the rich should “boast” in the humble position they now have, since they will fade away like flowers in the field.
but a rich follower of their humiliation; for the rich will pass away like a wild flower.
11 For the sun rises along with the blistering wind and scorches the grass. The flowers fall and their beauty is marred. Everything the rich achieve will fade in just the same way.
As the sun rises, and the hot wind blows, the plant withers, its flower fades, and all its beauty is gone. So is it with the rich. In the midst of their pursuits they will wither away.
12 Happy is anyone who patiently endures temptation, for when they've proved that they are trustworthy, they will receive the crown of life which God promises to those who love him.
Blessed is the person who remains firm under temptation, for, when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 Nobody should say when they're tempted, “I'm being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.
Let no one say, when they are tempted, ‘It is God who is tempting me!’ For God, who cannot be tempted to do wrong, does not himself tempt anyone.
14 Temptations come from our own evil desires that lead us astray and entrap us.
A man is in every case tempted by their own passions – allured and enticed by them.
15 Such desires lead to sin, and sin, when it's fully developed, causes death.
Then passion conceives and gives birth to sin, and sin, on reaching maturity, brings forth death.
16 My dear friends, don't be deceived.
Do not be deceived, my dear friends.
17 All that's good, every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down from the Father who made heaven's lights. Unlike them he doesn't change—he doesn't vary or cause shadows.
Every good thing given us, and every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down to us from the Father of the lights in the heavens, who is himself never subject to change or to eclipse.
18 He chose to give us new life through the word of truth, so that out of all his creation we would be very special to him.
Because he so willed, he gave us life, through the message of the truth, so that we should be, as it were, a kind of first fruits of his creation.
19 Remember this, my dear friends: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak, and slow to get angry,
Mark this, my dear friends – Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry;
20 because human anger doesn't reflect the good character of God.
for human anger does not forward the righteous purpose of God.
21 So get rid of all that's filthy and evil. Humbly accept the word that's been implanted within you—for this is what can save you.
Therefore, get rid of all filthiness and whatever wickedness still remains, and in a humble spirit receive that message which has been planted in your hearts and is able to save your souls.
22 But do what the word says—don't just listen to it and delude yourselves.
Put that message into practice, and do not merely listen to it – deceiving yourselves.
23 If you just listen to the word, and don't act on it, it's like staring at your own face in a mirror.
For, when anyone listens to it and does not practice it, they are like a person looking at their own face in a mirror.
24 You see yourself, but then you leave, and immediately forget what you looked like.
They look at themselves, then go on their way,
25 But if you look to the perfect law of freedom and follow it, not as someone who just listens and then forgets, but as someone who acts on it—then you will be blessed in what you do.
but the person who looks carefully into the perfect Law, the Law of freedom, and continues to do so, not listening to it and then forgetting it, but putting it into practice – that person will be blessed in what they do.
26 If you think you're religious, but don't control what you say, you deceive yourself—your religion is pointless.
When a person appears to be religious, yet does not bridle their tongue, but imposes on their own conscience, that person’s religious observances are valueless.
27 In the eyes of our God and Father, religion that's pure and genuine is to visit orphans and widows in their suffering, and to keep yourself from being contaminated by the world.
That religious observance which is pure and spotless in the eyes of God our Father is this – to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world.
