James 1:16-27

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.^{(A) 17} Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.^{(B) 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.^(C)

Hearing and Doing the Word

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,^{(D) 20} for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. ²¹ Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent,^[a] humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.^(E)

²² But^(F) be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face^[b] in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. ²⁵ But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.^(G)

²⁶ If anyone^[c] thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue,^(H) his religion is useless and he deceives himself. ²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows^(I) in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.^(J)