Jacob 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus (the) Messiah, to the twelve tribes which are in the Diaspora: 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 encounter various trials,
My brothers, when you are beset by various temptations, count it all joy,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
because you know that the testing of your faith is working out endurance.
4 Let endurance have its 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 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 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, 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, without wavering; for he who wavers is like a surge of the sea, wind-driven and tossed.
7 For let that person not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
Such a man need not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 He is a double-minded person, unstable in all his ways.
double-minded as he is, unstable at every turn.
9 But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;
Let a brother in humble circumstances glory in his exaltation;
10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.
but a rich brother, in his humiliation; because like the flower of the grass the rich man will 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 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 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 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 say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he 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, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
But each man is tempted by his own lusts that allure and entice him.
15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.
Then lust conceives and gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is mature, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Do not be deceived, my 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 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 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.
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 This you know, my beloved brothers. But let every person be swift to hear, slow to speak, and 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 human anger does not produce the righteousness of God.
for a man’s anger does not further the righteous purpose 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.
So strip off all filthiness and superfluity of wickedness, and in meekness receive the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
And become doers of the Word, and not merely hearers, deceiving yourselves.
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;
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 sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person 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 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 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 himself to be religious while he does not control his tongue, but deceives his heart, this one's religion is worthless.
If a man thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own religion,
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.
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.
