James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, greets the twelve tribes that are living abroad.
ⲁ̅ⲓⲁⲕⲱⲃⲟⲥ ⲡϩⲙϩⲁⲗ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲓⲏⲥ ⲡⲉⲭⲥ ⲉϥⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲙⲛⲧⲥⲛⲟⲟⲩⲥ ⲙⲫⲩⲗⲏ ⲉⲧϩⲉⲛ ⲧⲇⲓⲁⲥⲡⲟⲣⲁ ⲭⲁⲓⲣⲉⲧⲉ
2 My friends, whatever trials you may face from time to time, always regard them as a reason for rejoicing,
ⲃ̅ⲟⲡϥ ⲉⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲣⲁϣⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛϣⲁⲛⲉⲓ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲛⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲩϣⲟⲃⲉ
3 knowing, as you do, that the testing of your faith develops endurance.
ⲅ̅ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ϫⲉ ⲇⲟⲕⲓⲙⲏ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲉⲥⲣ ϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲩϩⲩⲡⲟⲙⲟⲛⲏ
4 And let endurance do its work perfectly, so that you may be altogether perfect, and in no respect lacking.
ⲇ̅ⲑⲩⲡⲟⲙⲟⲛⲏ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲉⲥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲩⲟⲩⲛⲧⲁⲥ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲛⲛⲟⲩϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲧⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲗⲉⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛϫⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛϣⲁⲁⲧ ⲁⲛ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ
5 If any one of you lacks wisdom, they should ask wisdom from the God who gives freely to everyone without reproach, and it will be given to them.
ⲉ̅ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲛ ⲟⲩⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ ϣⲁⲁⲧ ⲛⲛⲟⲩⲥⲟⲫⲓⲁ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲁⲓⲧⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲧϯ ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ϩⲁⲡⲗⲱⲥ ⲛϥⲛⲟϭⲛⲉϭ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ϥⲛⲁϯ ⲛⲁϥ
6 But they should ask with confidence, never doubting; for the person who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven here and there at the mercy of the wind –
ⲋ̅ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥⲁⲓⲧⲉⲓ ⲇⲉ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲡⲓⲥⲧⲓⲥ ⲛϥⲇⲓⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲇⲓⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉϥⲟ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲟⲩϩⲟⲉⲓⲙ ⲛⲧⲉ ⲑⲁⲗⲁⲥⲥⲁ ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲧⲏⲩ ⲣⲱϩⲧ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉϥϣⲱⲱϭⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ
7 Such a person must not expect that they will receive anything from the Lord,
ⲍ̅ⲙⲡⲉⲣⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲙⲉⲉⲩⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲙⲙⲁⲩ ϫⲉ ϥⲛⲁϫⲓ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
8 vacillating as they are, irresolute at every turn.
ⲏ̅ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ ϥϣⲧⲣⲧⲱⲣ ϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ
9 Let a follower in humble circumstances be proud of their exalted position,
ⲑ̅ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲥⲟⲛ ⲉⲧⲑⲃⲃⲓⲉⲏⲩ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϥϫⲓⲥⲉ
10 but a rich follower of their humiliation; for the rich will pass away like a wild flower.
ⲓ̅ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲣⲙⲁⲟ ϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϥⲑⲃⲃⲓⲟ ϫⲉ ϥⲛⲁⲟⲩⲉⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲛⲟⲩϩⲣⲏⲣⲉ ⲛⲭⲟⲣⲧⲟⲥ
11 As the sun rises, and the hot wind blows, the plant withers, its flower fades, and all its beauty is gone. So is it with the rich. In the midst of their pursuits they will wither away.
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲁϥϣⲁ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲣⲏ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲕⲁⲩⲙⲁ ⲁϥⲧⲣⲉ ⲡⲉⲭⲟⲣⲧⲟⲥ ϣⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉϥϩⲣⲏⲣⲉ ⲁϥⲥⲣⲟϥⲣⲉϥ ⲡⲥⲁ ⲙⲡⲉϥϩⲟ ⲁϥⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲧⲁⲓ ϩⲱⲱϥ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲑⲉ ⲙⲡⲣⲙⲁⲟ ⲉϥⲛⲁϩⲱϭⲉⲃ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥϩⲓⲟⲟⲩⲉ
12 Blessed is the person who remains firm under temptation, for, when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ⲛⲁⲓⲁⲧϥ ⲉⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲛⲁϥⲉⲓ ϩⲁ ⲟⲩⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲥⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲥⲱⲡⲧ ϥⲛⲁϫⲓ ⲙⲡⲉⲕⲗⲟⲙ ⲙⲡⲱⲛϩ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲣⲏⲧ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲙⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ
13 Let no one say, when they are tempted, “It is God who is tempting me!” For God, who cannot be tempted to do wrong, does not himself tempt anyone.
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ⲙⲡⲉⲣⲧⲉ ⲗⲉⲗⲁⲁⲩ ϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲉⲩⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲩⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙⲉϥⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲡⲡⲉⲑⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲉϥⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ
14 A man is in every case tempted by their own passions – allured and enticed by them.
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲡⲟⲩⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲩⲡⲉⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁ ⲙⲙⲓⲛ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲩⲥⲱⲕ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲩⲁⲡⲁⲧⲁ ⲙⲙⲟϥ
15 Then passion conceives and gives birth to sin, and sin, on reaching maturity, brings forth death.
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲉⲓⲧⲁ ⲧⲉⲡⲓⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁ ⲁⲥⲱ ϣⲁⲥϫⲡⲟ ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲡⲛⲟⲃⲉ ⲁϥϫⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁϥⲙⲓⲥⲉ ⲙⲡⲙⲟⲩ
16 Do not be deceived, my dear friends.
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ⲡⲉⲣⲡⲗⲁⲛⲁ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲣⲁⲧⲉ
17 Every good thing given us, and every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down to us from the Father of the lights in the heavens, who is himself never subject to change or to eclipse.
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ϯⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲇⲟⲣⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧϫⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲟⲩⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲡⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲉϥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ϩⲓⲧⲙ ⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲛⲛⲉⲟⲩⲟⲉⲓⲛ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲧ ⲙⲙⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛϩⲁⲓⲃⲉⲥ ⲏ ϣⲓⲃⲉ ⲏ ⲣⲓⲕⲉ ϩⲁϩⲧⲏϥ
18 Because he so willed, he gave us life, through the message of the truth, so that we should be, as it were, a kind of first fruits of his creation.
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲁϥϫⲡⲟ ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ϩⲙ ⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲧⲙⲉ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲩⲁⲩⲡⲁⲣⲭⲏ ⲛⲛⲉϥⲥⲱⲛⲧ
19 Mark this, my dear friends – Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry;
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲣⲁⲧⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉϥϭⲉⲡⲏ ⲉⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉϥⲟⲥⲕ ⲉϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉϥϩⲟⲣϣ ⲛⲛⲟⲩϭⲥ
20 for human anger does not forward the righteous purpose of God.
ⲕ̅ⲧⲟⲣⲅⲏ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲙⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲙⲉⲥⲣ ϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲇⲓⲕⲁⲓⲟⲥⲩⲛⲏ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
21 Therefore, get rid of all filthiness and whatever wickedness still remains, and in a humble spirit receive that message which has been planted in your hearts and is able to save your souls.
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲕⲱ ⲛⲥⲱⲧⲛ ⲛⲇⲱⲗⲙ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲙⲛ ⲕⲁⲕⲓⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ ϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲛⲧⲣⲙⲣⲁϣ ϣⲱⲡ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲙⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲧⲙⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲛ ϭⲟⲙ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩϫⲟ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲙⲯⲩⲭⲏ
22 Put that message into practice, and do not merely listen to it – deceiving yourselves.
ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲣⲉϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲣⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲙⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲡⲗⲁⲛⲁ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ
23 For, when anyone listens to it and does not practice it, they are like a person looking at their own face in a mirror.
ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ϫⲉ ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲁ ⲟⲩⲣⲉϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲛⲟⲩⲣⲉϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲡϩⲱⲃ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉϥⲧⲛⲧⲱⲛ ⲉⲩⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲡϩⲟ ⲛⲧⲁⲩϫⲡⲟϥ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲁⲗ
24 They look at themselves, then go on their way,
ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲁϥⲣ ⲡⲱⲃϣ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲉϥⲟ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ
25 but the person who looks carefully into the perfect Law, the Law of freedom, and continues to do so, not listening to it and then forgetting it, but putting it into practice – that person will be blessed in what they do.
ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥϭⲱϣⲧ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲟϥ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧϫⲏⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲙⲛⲧⲣⲉⲙⲛϩⲉ ⲁϥϭⲱ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲁⲛ ⲁϥⲣ ⲡⲱⲃϣ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛⲧⲁϥⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲡϩⲱⲃ ⲡⲁⲓ ϥⲛⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁⲓⲁⲧϥ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϥϩⲱⲃ
26 When a person appears to be religious, yet does not bridle their tongue, but imposes on their own conscience, that person’s religious observances are valueless.
ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ⲡⲉⲧϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲣⲉϥϣⲙϣⲉ ⲛϥⲭⲁⲗⲓⲛⲟⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲗⲁⲥ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉϥⲁⲡⲁⲧⲁ ⲙⲡⲉϥϩⲏⲧ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉϥϣⲙϣⲉ ϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ
27 That religious observance which is pure and spotless in the eyes of God our Father is this – to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the world.
ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ⲡϣⲙϣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲧⲟ ⲛⲛⲁⲇⲱⲗⲙ ⲛⲛⲁϩⲣⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉϭⲙ ⲡϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲛⲟⲣⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲭⲏⲣⲁ ϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲩⲑⲗⲓⲯⲓⲥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲇⲱⲗⲙ ϩⲙ ⲡⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ
