²² But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. ²³ For if anyone only listens to the word ^[a]without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets ^[b]what he looked like. ²⁵ But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but ^[c]an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience].