Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and ^(A)sin which clings so closely, and ^(B)let us run ^(C)with endurance the race that is ^(D)set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, ^(E)who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising ^(F)the shame, and ^(G)is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

^3 (H)Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or ^(I)fainthearted. ⁴ In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

⁷ It is for discipline that you have to endure. ^(M)God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ If you are left without discipline, ^(N)in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to ^(O)the Father of spirits ^(P)and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, ^(Q)that we may share his holiness. ^11 (R)For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields ^(S)the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore ^(T)lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, ¹³ and ^(U)make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint ^(V)but rather be healed. ^14 (W)Strive for peace with everyone, and for the ^(X)holiness ^(Y)without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one ^(Z)fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ^(AA)“root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; ¹⁶ that no one is ^(AB)sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ For you know that ^(AC)afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

¹⁸ For you have not come to ^(AD)what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest ¹⁹ and ^(AE)the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words ^(AF)made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. ²⁰ For they could not endure the order that was given, ^(AG)“If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” ²¹ Indeed, ^(AH)so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” ²² But you have come to ^(AI)Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, ^(AJ)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to ^(AK)innumerable angels in festal gathering, ²³ and to ^(AL)the assembly^[a] of the firstborn who are ^(AM)enrolled in heaven, and to ^(AN)God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, ^(AO)the mediator of a new covenant, and to ^(AP)the sprinkled blood ^(AQ)that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

²⁵ See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For ^(AR)if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. ²⁶ At that time ^(AS)his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ^(AT)“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” ²⁷ This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates ^(AU)the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore let us be grateful for receiving ^(AV)a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus ^(AW)let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our ^(AX)God is a consuming fire.

Sacrifices Pleasing to God

13 Let ^(AY)brotherly love continue. ^2 (AZ)Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby ^(BA)some have entertained angels unawares. ^3 (BB)Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. ^4 (BC)Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge ^(BD)the sexually immoral and adulterous. ⁵ Keep your life ^(BE)free from love of money, and ^(BF)be content with what you have, for he has said, ^(BG)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we can confidently say,

⁷ Remember ^(BJ)your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and ^(BK)imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is ^(BL)the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be ^(BM)led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, ^(BN)not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. ¹⁰ We have an altar ^(BO)from which those who serve the tent^[b] have no right to eat. ¹¹ For ^(BP)the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned ^(BQ)outside the camp. ¹² So Jesus also ^(BR)suffered ^(BS)outside the gate in order to sanctify the people ^(BT)through his own blood. ¹³ Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear ^(BU)the reproach he endured. ¹⁴ For ^(BV)here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. ^15 (BW)Through him then let us continually offer up ^(BX)a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^(BY)the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. ¹⁶ Do not neglect to do good and ^(BZ)to share what you have, for such ^(CA)sacrifices are pleasing to God.

¹⁷ Obey ^(CB)your leaders and submit to them, ^(CC)for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to ^(CD)give an account. ^(CE)Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

^18 (CF)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. ¹⁹ I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order ^(CG)that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction

²⁰ Now ^(CH)may the God of peace ^(CI)who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, ^(CJ)the great shepherd of the sheep, by ^(CK)the blood of the eternal covenant, ^21 (CL)equip you with everything good that you may do his will, ^(CM)working in us^[c] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, ^(CN)to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

²² I appeal to you, brothers,^[d] bear with my word of exhortation, for ^(CO)I have written to you briefly. ²³ You should know that ^(CP)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. ²⁴ Greet all ^(CQ)your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. ^25 (CR)Grace be with all of you.

Greeting

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

To ^(C)the twelve tribes in ^(D)the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Testing of Your Faith

^2 (E)Count it all joy, my brothers,^[b] when you meet trials ^(F)of various kinds, ³ for you know that ^(G)the testing of your faith ^(H)produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be ^(I)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

^5 (J)If any of you lacks wisdom, ^(K)let him ask God, ^(L)who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But ^(M)let him ask in faith, ^(N)with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like ^(O)a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ^8 (P)he is a double-minded man, ^(Q)unstable in all his ways.

⁹ Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and ^(R)the rich in his humiliation, because ^(S)like a flower of the grass^[c] he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and ^(T)withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

^12 (U)Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive ^(V)the crown of life, ^(W)which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³ Let 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. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire ^(X)when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and ^(Y)sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ^17 (Z)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from ^(AA)the Father of lights, ^(AB)with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.^{[d] 18 (AC)}Of his own will he ^(AD)brought us forth by the word of truth, ^(AE)that we should be a kind of ^(AF)firstfruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

^19 (AG)Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person ^(AH)be quick to hear, ^(AI)slow to speak, ^(AJ)slow to anger; ²⁰ for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore ^(AK)put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with ^(AL)meekness the implanted word, ^(AM)which is able to save your souls.

²² But be ^(AN)doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For 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. ²⁴ For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵ But the one who looks into the perfect law, ^(AO)the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, ^(AP)he will be blessed in his doing.

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

The Sin of Partiality

2 My brothers,^{[e] (AW)}show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(AX)the Lord of glory. ² For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, ³ and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” ^(AY)while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” ⁴ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become ^(AZ)judges with evil thoughts? ⁵ Listen, my beloved brothers, ^(BA)has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be ^(BB)rich in faith and heirs of ^(BC)the kingdom, ^(BD)which he has promised to those who love him? ⁶ But you ^(BE)have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who ^(BF)drag you ^(BG)into court? ⁷ Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable ^(BH)name by which you were called?

⁸ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ^(BI)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. ⁹ But if you ^(BJ)show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point ^(BK)has become guilty of all of it. ¹¹ For he who said, ^(BL)“Do not commit adultery,” also said, ^(BM)“Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹² So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under ^(BN)the law of liberty. ¹³ For ^(BO)judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith ^(BP)but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ^15 (BQ)If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ^16 (BR)and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good^[f] is that? ¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith ^(BS)apart from your works, and I will show you my faith ^(BT)by my works. ^19 (BU)You believe that God is one; you do well. Even ^(BV)the demons believe—and shudder! ²⁰ Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? ^21 (BW)Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? ²² You see that ^(BX)faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed ^(BY)by his works; ²³ and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ^(BZ)“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a ^(CA)friend of God. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ And in the same way was not also ^(CB)Rahab the prostitute justified by works ^(CC)when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? ²⁶ For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Taming the Tongue

3 ^(CD)Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. ² For ^(CE)we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, ^(CF)he is a perfect man, ^(CG)able also to bridle his whole body. ³ If we put ^(CH)bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small member, yet ^(CI)it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶ And ^(CJ)the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, ^(CK)staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,^[g] and set on fire by hell.^{[h] 7} For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, ^(CL)full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people ^(CM)who are made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,^[i] these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Wisdom from Above

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? ^(CN)By his good conduct let him show his works ^(CO)in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter ^(CP)jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not ^(CQ)the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, ^(CR)demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷ But ^(CS)the wisdom from above is first pure, then ^(CT)peaceable, gentle, open to reason, ^(CU)full of mercy and good fruits, ^(CV)impartial and ^(CW)sincere. ¹⁸ And ^(CX)a harvest of righteousness ^(CY)is sown in peace by those who make peace.