James 1:12-27

English Standard Version

¹²^(A)Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive ^(B)the crown of life, ^(C)which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵Then desire ^(D)when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and ^(E)sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

¹⁶Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ¹⁷^(F)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from ^(G)the Father of lights, ^(H)with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.^[a] ¹⁸^(I)Of his own will he ^(J)brought us forth by the word of truth, ^(K)that we should be a kind of ^(L)firstfruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

¹⁹^(M)Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person ^(N)be quick to hear, ^(O)slow to speak, ^(P)slow to anger; ²⁰for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ²¹Therefore ^(Q)put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with ^(R)meekness the implanted word, ^(S)which is able to save your souls.

²²But be ^(T)doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵But the one who looks into the perfect law, ^(U)the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, ^(V)he will be blessed in his doing.

²⁶If anyone thinks he is religious ^(W)and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's ^(X)religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: ^(Y)to visit ^(Z)orphans and widows in their affliction, and ^(AA)to keep oneself ^(AB)unstained from the world.