James 1
1 James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in dispersion sendeth greeting.
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greeting to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad.
2 Account it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various trials:
My brothers, when you are beset by various temptations, count it all joy,
3 knowing this, that the trial of your faith worketh patience;
because you know that the testing of your faith is working out endurance.
4 but let patience have it's perfect work, that ye may be entirely perfect, failing 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 lack wisdom, let him ask it of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given 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, nothing doubting; for he that doubteth is like a wave of the sea blown about 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 Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord.
Such a man need not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 A double-minded man is inconstant in all his ways.
double-minded as he is, unstable at every turn.
9 Let the brother that is low rejoice in his exaltation: but the rich in his humiliation,
Let a brother in humble circumstances glory in his exaltation;
10 because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
but a rich brother, in his humiliation; because like the flower of the grass the rich man will pass away.
11 For when the sun is risen with it's sultry heat, it drieth up the grass, and the flower of, it falleth, and the beauty of it's appearance is lost: so shall the rich man fade away in his projects.
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 Happy is the man who sustaineth temptation; for being approved he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that 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 that is tempted say, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted by evils, and He tempteth 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 every man is tempted, when drawn aside and insnared by his own vehement desire.
But each man is tempted by his own lusts that allure and entice him.
15 Then desire having conceived bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death.
Then lust conceives and gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is mature, brings forth death.
16 Be not therefore deceived, my beloved brethren: for every good gift,
Do not be deceived, my brothers!
17 and every perfect gift, but no evil one, is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, nor 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 who hath of his own will begotten us by the word of truth, that we might 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 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
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 man doth not practise the righteousness of God.
for a man’s anger does not further the righteous purpose of God.
21 Laying aside therefore all filthiness, and excess of malice, receive with meekness 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 hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
And become doers of the Word, and not merely hearers, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding 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 who beheld himself, and went away, and immediately forgot what manner 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 that looketh well into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
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 any among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his heart, this man's devotion is vain.
If a man thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own religion,
27 Pure and uncorrupt religion before God and our Father is this, to take care of orphans and widows in their affliction, and 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.
