16 Don’t be deceived,(A) my dear brothers and sisters.(B) 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above,(C) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,(D) who does not change(E) like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth(F) through the word of truth,(G) that we might be a kind of firstfruits(H) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters,(I) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak(J) and slow to become angry,

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16 (A)Do not be [a]deceived, (B)my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is (C)from above, coming down from (D)the Father of lights, (E)with whom there is no variation or [b]shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of (F)His will He (G)gave us birth by (H)the word of truth, so that we would be [c]a kind of (I)first fruits [d]among His creatures.

19 [e](J)You know this, (K)my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, (L)slow to speak, and (M)slow to anger;

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:16 Or misled
  2. James 1:17 Lit shadow of turning
  3. James 1:18 Or a certain first fruits
  4. James 1:18 Lit of
  5. James 1:19 Or Know this

16 Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow [a]cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]. 18 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes].

19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:17 Lit of turning.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

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16 Don't be fooled, my dear friends. 17 Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. 18 He wanted us to be his own special people,[a] and so he sent the true message to give us new birth.

Hearing and Obeying

19 (A) My dear friends, you should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.

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Footnotes

  1. 1.18 his own special people: The Greek text has “the first of his creatures.” The Law of Moses taught that the first-born of all animals and the first part of the harvest were special and belonged to the Lord.