[1] James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve
tribes which are in the Dispersion: greetings. [2] Count it all joy, my
brothers, when you fall into various temptations, [3] Knowing that the
testing of your faith produces patience. [4] Let patience have its perfect
work, 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 liberally and
without reproach; and it will be given him. [6] But let him ask in faith,
without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven
by the wind and tossed. [7] For let that man not think that he will receive
anything from the Lord. [8] He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his
ways. [9] But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high
position; [10] and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the
flower in the grass, he will pass away. [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 man fade away in
his pursuits. [12] Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he
has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord
promised to those who love him. [13] Let no man say when he is tempted, "I
am tempted by God," for God can`t be tempted with evil, and he himself
tempts no one. [14] But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his
own lust, and enticed. [15] Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears
sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. [16] Don`t be
deceived, my beloved brothers. [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no
variation, nor turning shadow. [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. [19] So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to
hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man doesn`t
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. [22] But be doers of the
word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. [23] For if anyone is
a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural
face in a mirror; [24] for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately
forgets what kind of man he was. [25] But he who looks into the perfect
law, the law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but
a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does. [26] If
anyone among you thinks himself to be religious, while he doesn`t bridle
his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man`s 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.
