Greeting to the Twelve Tribes
JAMES, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are dispersed abroad, greeting.
Trying of your Faith Works Endurance
2 ¶ My brothers, consider it all joy when you fall into various temptations;
3 Knowing that the testing of your faith works endurance.
4 But let endurance finish its work, so that you may become perfect and complete, falling short in nothing.
5 ¶ If any of you lack wisdom, ask of God that gives to all generously, and reviles not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, without doubting. Because he that doubts is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed about.
7 For let not that man, think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Enduring Trails
9 ¶ Let the brother of low status rejoice in that he is raised up;
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flowing grass passes away, so the rich.
11 For the sun rises with a burning heat, and it withers the grass and the flower thereof falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes: so also, shall the rich man wither away in his business pursuits.
12 ¶ Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when his conduct is approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted: I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt anyone:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away because of his own desire, and enticed.
15 Then when desire has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is complete, brings forth death.
16 ¶ Do not wander from the way, my beloved brothers.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation, neither a shadow of turning.
18 Of his will he begot us with the word of truth, that we should be the firstfruits of all his creation.
The Word is Able to Save
19 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brothers, let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger:
20 For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore lay aside all moral filthiness and the prevalent maliciousness, in meekness, and receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 And be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror:
24 For he observes himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what manner of man he is.
25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he not being a forgetful hearer, rather a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in what he does.
26 ¶ If any man among you presumes to be devout, and does not bridle his tongue, rather deceiving his own heart; this man’s religion is worthless.
27 Undefiled and pure religion in the sight of God and the Father is this: To care for orphans and widows in their tribulation, keeping himself without spot, set apart from the world.