Wisdom Bestows Well-Being

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)