James 1:1-18

Christian Standard Bible

Greeting

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

To the twelve tribes^(C) dispersed abroad.^[a](D)

Greetings.^(E)

Trials and Maturity

² Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,^{(F) 3} because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

⁵ Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.^{(G) 6} But let him ask in faith without doubting.^[b] For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.^[c](H)

⁹ Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field.^{(I) 11} For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities.^(J)

¹² Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown^(K) of life that God^[d] has promised to those who love him.^(L)

¹³ No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.^{(M) 15} Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.^(N)

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.^{(O) 17} Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.^{(P) 18} By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.^(Q)