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 who are scattered abroad: Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you experience various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in 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 lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, 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 he must ask in faith without doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed about.
7 For let that person not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
That person should not expect to receive anything from 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;
The lowly brother should rejoice in being exalted,
10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.
and the rich man should rejoice in being made low, because he will pass away like a flower of grass.
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 rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass, and its flower falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in 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 been approved, 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.
No one should say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God is not tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
14 But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.
15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.
And when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And when sin is fully grown, it brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Do not be deceived, 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 and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or 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 he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits 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;
So then, my beloved brothers, everyone should be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
20 for human anger does not produce the righteousness of God.
For the anger of man does not produce 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.
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and rampant wickedness, humbly 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.
But be doers of the word and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are 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;
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror.
24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was.
For he looks at himself and goes away, and then immediately forgets what he looks 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 he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts. He will be blessed in what he 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 anyone among you considers himself to be religious but does not bridle his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
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 and undefiled religion before God our Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
