James 1:19-27

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Hearing and Doing the Word

¹⁹ You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger,^{(A) 20} for human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.^{[a] 21} Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.^(B)

²² But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.^{(C) 23} For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves^[b] in a mirror;^{(D) 24} for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵ But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.^(E)

²⁶ If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.^{(F) 27} Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.^(G)