James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Diaspora: Greetings.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,
My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations;
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience.
4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without finding fault; and it will be given to him.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let that person not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 He is a double-minded person, unstable in all his ways.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
9 But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich person fade away in his pursuits.
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it wither the grass, and the flower thereof falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which he promised to those who love him.
Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man:
14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.
Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Do not err, my beloved brothers.
17 All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no ficklenss, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
Of his own will fathered he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
19 This you know, my beloved brothers. But let every person be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
Why, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 for human anger does not produce the righteousness of God.
For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Why lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his natural face in a mirror;
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like to a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was.
For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect Law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this person will be blessed in what he does.
But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious while he does not control his tongue, but deceives his heart, this one's religion is worthless.
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
