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!
ιακωβος θεου και κυριου ιησου χριστου δουλος ταις δωδεκα φυλαις ταις εν τη διασπορα χαιρειν
2 My friends, choose to stay happy even when all kinds of troubles come your way,
πασαν χαραν ηγησασθε αδελφοι μου οταν πειρασμοις περιπεσητε ποικιλοις
3 because you know that endurance comes from dealing with challenges to your trust in God.
γινωσκοντες οτι το δοκιμιον υμων της πιστεως κατεργαζεται υπομονην
4 Let your endurance become as strong as possible, so that you will be completely mature, without any shortcomings.
η δε υπομονη εργον τελειον εχετω ινα ητε τελειοι και ολοκληροι εν μηδενι λειπομενοι
5 If any of you need wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to everyone without holding back.
ει δε τις υμων λειπεται σοφιας αιτειτω παρα του διδοντος θεου πασιν απλως και μη ονειδιζοντος και δοθησεται αυτω
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.
αιτειτω δε εν πιστει μηδεν διακρινομενος ο γαρ διακρινομενος εοικεν κλυδωνι θαλασσης ανεμιζομενω και ριπιζομενω
7 Nobody like that should think they'll get anything from the Lord—
μη γαρ οιεσθω ο ανθρωπος εκεινος οτι ληψεται τι παρα του κυριου
8 their minds think every which way, and they're unstable in whatever they do.
ανηρ διψυχος ακαταστατος εν πασαις ταις οδοις αυτου
9 Believers who are born poor should take pride in the high position they've been given,
καυχασθω δε ο αδελφος ο ταπεινος εν τω υψει αυτου
10 while the rich should “boast” in the humble position they now have, since they will fade away like flowers in the field.
ο δε πλουσιος εν τη ταπεινωσει αυτου οτι ως ανθος χορτου παρελευσεται
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.
ανετειλεν γαρ ο ηλιος συν τω καυσωνι και εξηρανεν τον χορτον και το ανθος αυτου εξεπεσεν και η ευπρεπεια του προσωπου αυτου απωλετο ουτως και ο πλουσιος εν ταις πορειαις αυτου μαρανθησεται
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.
μακαριος ανηρ ος υπομενει πειρασμον οτι δοκιμος γενομενος ληψεται τον στεφανον της ζωης ον επηγγειλατο ο κυριος τοις αγαπωσιν αυτον
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.
μηδεις πειραζομενος λεγετω οτι απο του θεου πειραζομαι ο γαρ θεος απειραστος εστιν κακων πειραζει δε αυτος ουδενα
14 Temptations come from our own evil desires that lead us astray and entrap us.
εκαστος δε πειραζεται υπο της ιδιας επιθυμιας εξελκομενος και δελεαζομενος
15 Such desires lead to sin, and sin, when it's fully developed, causes death.
ειτα η επιθυμια συλλαβουσα τικτει αμαρτιαν η δε αμαρτια αποτελεσθεισα αποκυει θανατον
16 My dear friends, don't be deceived.
μη πλανασθε αδελφοι μου αγαπητοι
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.
πασα δοσις αγαθη και παν δωρημα τελειον ανωθεν εστιν καταβαινον απο του πατρος των φωτων παρ ω ουκ ενι παραλλαγη η τροπης αποσκιασμα
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.
βουληθεις απεκυησεν ημας λογω αληθειας εις το ειναι ημας απαρχην τινα των αυτου κτισματων
19 Remember this, my dear friends: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak, and slow to get angry,
ωστε αδελφοι μου αγαπητοι εστω πας ανθρωπος ταχυς εις το ακουσαι βραδυς εις το λαλησαι βραδυς εις οργην
20 because human anger doesn't reflect the good character of God.
οργη γαρ ανδρος δικαιοσυνην θεου ου κατεργαζεται
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.
διο αποθεμενοι πασαν ρυπαριαν και περισσειαν κακιας εν πραυτητι δεξασθε τον εμφυτον λογον τον δυναμενον σωσαι τας ψυχας υμων
22 But do what the word says—don't just listen to it and delude yourselves.
γινεσθε δε ποιηται λογου και μη μονον ακροαται παραλογιζομενοι εαυτους
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.
οτι ει τις ακροατης λογου εστιν και ου ποιητης ουτος εοικεν ανδρι κατανοουντι το προσωπον της γενεσεως αυτου εν εσοπτρω
24 You see yourself, but then you leave, and immediately forget what you looked like.
κατενοησεν γαρ εαυτον και απεληλυθεν και ευθεως επελαθετο οποιος ην
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.
ο δε παρακυψας εις νομον τελειον τον της ελευθεριας και παραμεινας ουτος ουκ ακροατης επιλησμονης γενομενος αλλα ποιητης εργου ουτος μακαριος εν τη ποιησει αυτου εσται
26 If you think you're religious, but don't control what you say, you deceive yourself—your religion is pointless.
ει τις δοκει θρησκος ειναι εν υμιν μη χαλιναγωγων γλωσσαν αυτου αλλ απατων καρδιαν αυτου τουτου ματαιος η θρησκεια
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.
θρησκεια καθαρα και αμιαντος παρα τω θεω και πατρι αυτη εστιν επισκεπτεσθαι ορφανους και χηρας εν τη θλιψει αυτων ασπιλον εαυτον τηρειν απο του κοσμου
