12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run^(A) with perseverance^(B) the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus,^(C) the pioneer^(D) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^(E) scorning its shame,^(F) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^{(G) 3} Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary^(H) and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.^{(I) 5} And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.^(M) For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline^(N)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits^(O) and live!^{(P) 10} They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.^{(Q) 11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace^(R) for those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.^{(S) 13} “Make level paths for your feet,”^[b](T) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.^(U)

Warning and Encouragement

¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone^(V) and to be holy;^(W) without holiness no one will see the Lord.^{(X) 15} See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God^(Y) and that no bitter root^(Z) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ¹⁶ See that no one is sexually immoral,^(AA) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.^{(AB) 17} Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,^(AC) he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;^{(AD) 19} to a trumpet blast^(AE) or to such a voice speaking words^(AF) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,^{(AG) 20} because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^{[c](AH) 21} The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^[d](AI)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion,^(AJ) to the city^(AK) of the living God,^(AL) the heavenly Jerusalem.^(AM) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn,^(AN) whose names are written in heaven.^(AO) You have come to God, the Judge of all,^(AP) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^{(AQ) 24} to Jesus the mediator^(AR) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^(AS) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.^(AT)

²⁵ See to it that you do not refuse^(AU) him who speaks.^(AV) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned^(AW) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?^{(AX) 26} At that time his voice shook the earth,^(AY) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”^{[e](AZ) 27} The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken^(BA)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,^(BB) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,^{(BC) 29} for our “God is a consuming fire.”^[f](BD)

Concluding Exhortations

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.^{(BE) 2} Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,^(BF) for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.^{(BG) 3} Continue to remember those in prison^(BH) as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

⁴ Marriage should be honored by all,^(BI) and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.^{(BJ) 5} Keep your lives free from the love of money^(BK) and be content with what you have,^(BL) because God has said,

⁶ So we say with confidence,

⁷ Remember your leaders,^(BO) who spoke the word of God^(BP) to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate^(BQ) their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.^(BR)

⁹ Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.^(BS) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened^(BT) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,^(BU) which is of no benefit to those who do so.^{(BV) 10} We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle^(BW) have no right to eat.^(BX)

¹¹ The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,^(BY) but the bodies are burned outside the camp.^{(BZ) 12} And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate^(CA) to make the people holy^(CB) through his own blood.^{(CC) 13} Let us, then, go to him^(CD) outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.^{(CE) 14} For here we do not have an enduring city,^(CF) but we are looking for the city that is to come.^(CG)

¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice^(CH) of praise—the fruit of lips^(CI) that openly profess his name. ¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others,^(CJ) for with such sacrifices^(CK) God is pleased.

¹⁷ Have confidence in your leaders^(CL) and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you^(CM) as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

¹⁸ Pray for us.^(CN) We are sure that we have a clear conscience^(CO) and desire to live honorably in every way. ¹⁹ I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.^(CP)

Benediction and Final Greetings

²⁰ Now may the God of peace,^(CQ) who through the blood of the eternal covenant^(CR) brought back from the dead^(CS) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,^{(CT) 21} equip you with everything good for doing his will,^(CU) and may he work in us^(CV) what is pleasing to him,^(CW) through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(CX)

²² Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.^(CY)

²³ I want you to know that our brother Timothy^(CZ) has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

²⁴ Greet all your leaders^(DA) and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy^(DB) send you their greetings.

²⁵ Grace be with you all.^(DC)

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)

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers,^(CE) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged^(CF) more strictly.^{(CG) 2} We all stumble^(CH) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say^(CI) is perfect,^(CJ) able to keep their whole body in check.^(CK)

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.^{(CL) 4} Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.^(CM) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire,^(CN) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^(CO) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^(CP)

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^(CQ)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.^{(CR) 10} Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?^(CS) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it^(CT) by their good life, by deeds^(CU) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition^(CV) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.^{(CW) 15} Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven^(CX) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.^{(CY) 16} For where you have envy and selfish ambition,^(CZ) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven^(DA) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,^(DB) considerate, submissive, full of mercy^(DC) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.^{(DD) 18} Peacemakers^(DE) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.^(DF)