The Death of Lazarus

11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany,^(A) the village of Mary and her sister Martha.^{(B) 2} (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)^{(C) 3} So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love^(D) is sick.”

⁴ When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory^(E) so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, ⁷ and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”^(F)

⁸ “But Rabbi,”^(G) they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you,^(H) and yet you are going back?”

⁹ Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light.^{(I) 10} It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

¹¹ After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend^(J) Lazarus has fallen asleep;^(K) but I am going there to wake him up.”

¹² His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” ¹³ Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.^(L)

¹⁴ So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵ and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

¹⁶ Then Thomas^(M) (also known as Didymus^[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

¹⁷ On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.^{(N) 18} Now Bethany^(O) was less than two miles^[b] from Jerusalem, ¹⁹ and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.^{(P) 20} When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.^(Q)

²¹ “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.^{(R) 22} But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”^(S)

²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

²⁴ Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection^(T) at the last day.”^(U)

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am^(V) the resurrection and the life.^(W) The one who believes^(X) in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives by believing^(Y) in me will never die.^(Z) Do you believe this?”

²⁷ “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah,^(AA) the Son of God,^(AB) who is to come into the world.”^(AC)

²⁸ After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher^(AD) is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” ²⁹ When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. ³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.^{(AE) 31} When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her,^(AF) noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

³² When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”^(AG)

³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved^(AH) in spirit and troubled.^{(AI) 34} “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

³⁵ Jesus wept.^(AJ)

³⁶ Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”^(AK)

³⁷ But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man^(AL) have kept this man from dying?”^(AM)

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

³⁸ Jesus, once more deeply moved,^(AN) came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.^{(AO) 39} “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”^(AP)

⁴⁰ Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe,^(AQ) you will see the glory of God?”^(AR)

⁴¹ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up^(AS) and said, “Father,^(AT) I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here,^(AU) that they may believe that you sent me.”^(AV)

⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”^{(AW) 44} The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen,^(AX) and a cloth around his face.^(AY)

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

⁴⁵ Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary,^(AZ) and had seen what Jesus did,^(BA) believed in him.^{(BB) 46} But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. ⁴⁷ Then the chief priests and the Pharisees^(BC) called a meeting^(BD) of the Sanhedrin.^(BE)

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.^{(BF) 48} If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

⁴⁹ Then one of them, named Caiaphas,^(BG) who was high priest that year,^(BH) spoke up, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰ You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”^(BI)

⁵¹ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, ⁵² and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.^{(BJ) 53} So from that day on they plotted to take his life.^(BK)

⁵⁴ Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea.^(BL) Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

⁵⁵ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover,^(BM) many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing^(BN) before the Passover. ⁵⁶ They kept looking for Jesus,^(BO) and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” ⁵⁷ But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany^(BP)

12 Six days before the Passover,^(BQ) Jesus came to Bethany,^(BR) where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,^(BS) while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took about a pint^[c] of pure nard, an expensive perfume;^(BT) she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.^(BU) And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,^(BV) objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.^[d]” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag,^(BW) he used to help himself to what was put into it.

⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.^{(BX) 8} You will always have the poor among you,^[e](BY) but you will not always have me.”

⁹ Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.^{(BZ) 10} So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, ¹¹ for on account of him^(CA) many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.^(CB)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King^(CC)

¹² The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. ¹³ They took palm branches^(CD) and went out to meet him, shouting,

¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

¹⁶ At first his disciples did not understand all this.^(CH) Only after Jesus was glorified^(CI) did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

¹⁷ Now the crowd that was with him^(CJ) when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. ¹⁸ Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign,^(CK) went out to meet him. ¹⁹ So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”^(CL)

Jesus Predicts His Death

²⁰ Now there were some Greeks^(CM) among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹ They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida^(CN) in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied, “The hour^(CO) has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.^{(CP) 24} Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,^(CQ) it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it^(CR) for eternal life.^{(CS) 26} Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.^(CT) My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled,^(CU) and what shall I say? ‘Father,^(CV) save me from this hour’?^(CW) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven,^(CX) “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

³⁰ Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit,^(CY) not mine. ³¹ Now is the time for judgment on this world;^(CZ) now the prince of this world^(DA) will be driven out. ³² And I, when I am lifted up^[i] from the earth,^(DB) will draw all people to myself.”^{(DC) 33} He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.^(DD)

³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law^(DE) that the Messiah will remain forever,^(DF) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man^(DG) must be lifted up’?^(DH) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light^(DI) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,^(DJ) before darkness overtakes you.^(DK) Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”^(DL) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.^(DM)

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

³⁷ Even after Jesus had performed so many signs^(DN) in their presence, they still would not believe in him. ³⁸ This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

³⁹ For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

⁴¹ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory^(DQ) and spoke about him.^(DR)

⁴² Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.^(DS) But because of the Pharisees^(DT) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;^{(DU) 43} for they loved human praise^(DV) more than praise from God.^(DW)

⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.^{(DX) 45} The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.^{(DY) 46} I have come into the world as a light,^(DZ) so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

⁴⁷ “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.^{(EA) 48} There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them^(EB) at the last day. ⁴⁹ For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me^(EC) to say all that I have spoken. ⁵⁰ I know that his command leads to eternal life.^(ED) So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”^(EE)

1 James,^(A) a servant of God^(B) and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes^(C) scattered^(D) among the nations:

Greetings.^(E)

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,^{(F) 3} because you know that the testing of your faith^(G) produces perseverance.^{(H) 4} Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature^(I) and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,^(J) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.^{(K) 6} But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,^(L) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded^(M) and unstable^(N) in all they do.

⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.^{(O) 10} But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.^{(P) 11} For the sun rises with scorching heat^(Q) and withers^(R) the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.^(S) In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial^(T) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life^(U) that the Lord has promised to those who love him.^(V)

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own^(W) evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;^(X) and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.^(Y)

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived,^(Z) my dear brothers and sisters.^{(AA) 17} Every good and perfect gift is from above,^(AB) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,^(AC) who does not change^(AD) like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth^(AE) through the word of truth,^(AF) that we might be a kind of firstfruits^(AG) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters,^(AH) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak^(AI) and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger^(AJ) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of^(AK) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,^(AL) which can save you.

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.^{(AM) 23} Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,^(AN) and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.^(AO)

²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues^(AP) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after^(AQ) orphans and widows^(AR) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.^(AS)

Favoritism Forbidden

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious^(AT) Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.^{(AU) 2} Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges^(AV) with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^(AW) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^(AX) to be rich in faith^(AY) and to inherit the kingdom^(AZ) he promised those who love him?^{(BA) 6} But you have dishonored the poor.^(BB) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?^{(BC) 7} Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”^[b](BD) you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism,^(BE) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.^{(BF) 10} For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles^(BG) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.^{(BH) 11} For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”^[c](BI) also said, “You shall not murder.”^[d](BJ) If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged^(BK) by the law that gives freedom,^{(BL) 13} because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.^(BM) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Deeds

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?^(BN) Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.^{(BO) 16} If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?^{(BP) 17} In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.^(BQ)

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,^(BR) and I will show you my faith^(BS) by my deeds.^{(BT) 19} You believe that there is one God.^(BU) Good! Even the demons believe that^(BV)—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[e]?^{(BW) 21} Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?^{(BX) 22} You see that his faith and his actions were working together,^(BY) and his faith was made complete by what he did.^{(BZ) 23} And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[f](CA) and he was called God’s friend.^{(CB) 24} You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?^{(CC) 26} As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.^(CD)

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers,^(CE) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged^(CF) more strictly.^{(CG) 2} We all stumble^(CH) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say^(CI) is perfect,^(CJ) able to keep their whole body in check.^(CK)

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.^{(CL) 4} Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.^(CM) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire,^(CN) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^(CO) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^(CP)

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^(CQ)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.^{(CR) 10} Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?^(CS) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it^(CT) by their good life, by deeds^(CU) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition^(CV) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.^{(CW) 15} Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven^(CX) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.^{(CY) 16} For where you have envy and selfish ambition,^(CZ) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven^(DA) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,^(DB) considerate, submissive, full of mercy^(DC) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.^{(DD) 18} Peacemakers^(DE) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.^(DF)