New Testament · James

James 1

A Greeting from James

(Jude 1:1–2)

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Yeshua Messiah, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion^a: greetings.

Rejoicing in Trials

(Philippians 1:12–20)

2Count it all joy^b, my brothers, when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5But if any of you lacks wisdom^c, let him ask of God — who gives to all generously and without reproach — and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no wavering, for the one who wavers is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.^d 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord — 8a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10and the rich man in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes — so also will the rich man fade in the midst of his pursuits.

12Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has become verified he will receive the crown of life^f, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.^e

Good and Perfect Gifts

13Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself tempts no one. 14But each person is tempted when he is drawn out and enticed by his own desire.^g 15Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.

16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17Every good giving^h and every perfect bestowmentⁱ is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18Of His own having purposed He brought us forth by the word^k of truth^l, so that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.^j

Hearing and Doing

19So then, my beloved brothers, let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger^m, 20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousnessⁿ of God. 21Therefore, putting away all filthiness and rampant wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls^o.

22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror — 24for he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25But the one who looks into the perfect law^p of freedom and perseveres — not being a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts — this one will be blessed in his doing.

26If anyone among you thinks he is religious while not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart^q, this one's religion is worthless. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.