James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are in the dispersion: Greetings!
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greeting to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad.
2 Count [it] all joy, my brothers, when you may fall into manifold temptations,
My brothers, when you are beset by various temptations, count it all joy,
3 knowing that the proof of your faith works endurance,
because you know that the testing of your faith is working out endurance.
4 and let the endurance have a perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
But let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, not lacking in anything.
5 And if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, who is giving to all generously, and not reproaching, and it will be given to him;
If any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him ask it from the God who gives to all men freely and without upbraiding; and it will be given to him.
6 but let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for he who is doubting has been like a wave of the sea, driven by wind and tossed;
But let him ask in faith, without wavering; for he who wavers is like a surge of the sea, wind-driven and tossed.
7 for do not let that man suppose that he will receive anything from the LORD—
Such a man need not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 a soul-split man [is] unstable in all his ways.
double-minded as he is, unstable at every turn.
9 And let the brother who is low rejoice in his exaltation,
Let a brother in humble circumstances glory in his exaltation;
10 but the rich in his becoming low, because he will pass away as a flower of grass;
but a rich brother, in his humiliation; because like the flower of the grass the rich man will pass away.
11 for the sun rose with the burning heat, and withered the grass, and the flower of it fell, and the beauty of its appearance perished, so also the rich in his way will fade away!
For as the sun comes up with a burning heat, it withers the grass, and its flowers fall, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes; so also shall the rich man fade away amid his pursuits.
12 Blessed [is] the man who endures temptation, because, becoming approved, he will receive the garland of life, which the LORD promised to those loving Him.
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 Let no one who is being tempted say, “I am tempted from God,” for God is not tempted by evils, and Himself tempts no one,
When he is being tempted, let no one say, "It is God who tempts me," for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man.
14 but each one is tempted, being led away and enticed by his own desires;
But each man is tempted by his own lusts that allure and entice him.
15 afterward the desire having conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin having been perfected, brings forth death.
Then lust conceives and gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is mature, brings forth death.
16 Do not be led astray, my beloved brothers.
Do not be deceived, my brothers!
17 Every good giving, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation, or shadow of turning;
Every good gift and every perfect boon is from above, and is ever coming down to us from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of eclipse.
18 having willed [it], He begot us with a word of truth, for our being a certain first-fruit of His creatures.
Because he willed, he gave us birth through the word of truth, so that we should be a kind of first-fruits among his creatures.
19 So then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,
Mark this well, my dear brothers. Let every man be swift in hearing, slow in speaking, slow in growing angry;
20 for the wrath of a man does not work the righteousness of God;
for a man’s anger does not further the righteous purpose of God.
21 for this reason, having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, receive the implanted word in meekness, that is able to save your souls;
So strip off all filthiness and superfluity of wickedness, and in meekness receive the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.
22 and become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,
And become doers of the Word, and not merely hearers, deceiving yourselves.
23 because, if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one has been like to a man viewing his natural face in a mirror,
Because if any one is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he viewed himself, and has gone away, and immediately he forgot what kind of [man] he was;
for after he has looked carefully at himself, he goes away, and at once forgets what he is like.
25 but he who looked into [the] perfect law—that of liberty, and continued there, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of work—this one will be blessed in his doing.
But the man who looks closely into the perfect law - the law of liberty - and continues looking, this man will be blessed in his deed because he is not a hearer who forgets, but a doer who does.
26 If anyone thinks to be religious among you, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, the religion of this one [is] vain;
If a man thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own religion,
27 religion pure and undefiled with the God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation—to keep himself unspotted from the world.
and undefiled before our God and Father, to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, and ever to keep himself unspotted from the world.
