James 1
1 Iames a seruant of God, and of the Lord Iesus Christ, to the twelue Tribes, which are scattered abroade, salutation.
JAMES, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are dispersed, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it exceeding ioy, when ye fall into diuers tentations,
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various trials;
3 Knowing that ye trying of your faith bringeth forth patience,
knowing that the proof of your faith produceth patience.
4 And let patience haue her perfect worke, that ye may be perfect and entier, lacking nothing.
But let patience have its work perfected, that ye may be perfect and complete, deficient in nothing.
5 If any of you lacke wisedome, let him aske of God, which giueth to all men liberally, and reprocheth no man, and it shalbe giuen him.
But if any man of you be deficient in wisdom, let him ask it of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not and it shall be given him.
6 But let him aske in faith, and wauer not: for hee that wauereth, is like a waue of the sea, tost of the winde, and caried away.
But let him ask in faith, harbouring no doubt: for he who is doubtful is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind, and in constant agitation.
7 Neither let that man thinke that hee shall receiue any thing of the Lord.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord.
8 A double minded man is vnstable in all his waies.
A double-minded man is unsteady in all his ways.
9 Let the brother of lowe degree reioyce in that he is exalted:
Let the brother low in station rejoice in his elevation:
10 Againe hee that is rich, in that hee is made lowe: for as the flower of the grasse, shall he vanish away.
but the rich, in his abasement: for as the flower of grass he shall pass away.
11 For as when the sunne riseth with heate, then the grasse withereth, and his flower falleth away, and the goodly shape of it perisheth: euen so shall the rich man wither away in all his waies.
For the sun arose with fervour, and burnt up the grass, and the flower of it fell off, and the beauty of its appearance was lost: just so the rich man in his course of life shall wither away.
12 Blessed is ye man, that endureth tentation: for when he is tried, hee shall receiue the crowne of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that loue him.
Blessed is the man who patiently supports temptation: for when he is proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to those who love him.
13 Let no man say when hee is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God can not bee tempted with euill, neither tempteth he any man.
Let no man under temptation say, I am tempted of God: for God is incapable of temptation from evils, and he tempteth no man:
14 But euery man is tempted, when hee is drawen away by his owne concupiscence, and is entised.
but every person is tempted, when by his own peculiar passion he is born away, and ensnared.
15 Then when lust hath conceiued, it bringeth foorth sinne, and sinne when it is finished, bringeth foorth death.
Then passion impregnated, bringeth forth sin, and sin reaching its consummation, bringeth forth death.
16 Erre not, my deare brethren.
Be not deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 Euery good giuing, and euery perfect gift is from aboue, and commeth downe from the Father of lights, with whome is no variablenes, neither shadow of turning.
Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, descending from the father of illuminations, with whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of change.
18 Of his owne will begate hee vs with the woorde of trueth, that we shoulde be as the first fruites of his creatures.
Of his own choice he produced us by the word of truth, that we might be a sort of first fruit of his creatures.―
19 Wherefore my deare brethren, let euery man be swift to heare, slowe to speake, and slowe to wrath.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
20 For the wrath of man doeth not accomplish the righteousnesse of God.
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthinesse, and superfluitie of maliciousnesse, and receiue with meekenes the word that is graffed in you, which is able to saue your soules.
Wherefore laying aside all vicious pollution, and the abundance of iniquity, receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which hath power to save your souls.
22 And be ye doers of the word, and not hearers onely, deceiuing your owne selues.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves by false reasoning.
23 For if any heare the woorde, and doe it not, he is like vnto a man, that beholdeth his naturall face in a glasse.
For if any man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man that looks at his natural face in a glass;
24 For when he hath considered himselfe, hee goeth his way, and forgetteth immediately what maner of one he was.
for he beheld himself, and went away, and immediately forgot what sort of person he was.
25 But who so looketh in the perfect Lawe of libertie, and continueth therein, hee not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the woorke, shalbe blessed in his deede.
But he that looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and perseveres, this man not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, he shall be blessed in his practice.
26 If any man amog you seeme religious, and refraineth not his tongue, but deceiueth his owne heart, this mans religion is vaine.
If any man thinks he is a religious character among you, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and vndefiled before God, euen the Father, is this, to visite the fatherlesse, and widdowes in their aduersitie, and to keepe himselfe vnspotted of the world.
Pure religion and undefiled with God even the Father is this, To pay diligent attention to the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to preserve himself spotless from the world.
