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

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,(F) because you know that the testing of your faith(G) produces perseverance.(H) Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature(I) and complete, not lacking anything. 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) 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. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded(M) and unstable(N) in all they do.

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.

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.

James Iakōbos, a servant of God theos and kai of the Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos, to the ho twelve dōdeka tribes phylē · ho in en the ho dispersion diaspora: Greetings chairō.

Consider hēgeomai it sheer pas joy chara, my egō brothers adelphos, when hotan you encounter peripiptō various kinds of poikilos trials peirasmos, because you know ginōskō that hoti the ho testing dokimion of ho your hymeis faith pistis produces katergazomai endurance hypomonē. · ho And de let echō endurance hypomonē carry out echō its intended ergon purpose teleios, so that hina you may be eimi mature teleios and kai complete holoklēros, lacking leipō in en nothing mēdeis. But de if ei any tis of you hymeis lacks leipō wisdom sophia, he should ask aiteō God theos, who ho gives didōmi to everyone pas generously haplōs, · kai not demanding oneidizō something in return , and kai it will be given didōmi to him autos. But de he must ask aiteō in en faith pistis without mēdeis doubting diakrinō, for gar the ho doubter diakrinō is like eoika a wave klydōn of the sea thalassa, driven by the wind anemizō and kai tossed about rhipizō. For gar that ekeinos person anthrōpos must not imagine oiomai · ho that hoti he will receive lambanō anything tis from para the ho Lord kyrios; he is a double-minded dipsychos man anēr, unstable akatastatos in en all pas · ho his autos ways hodos.

Let the ho brother adelphos of limited means tapeinos take pride kauchaomai · de · ho in en · ho his autos high position hypsos, 10 and de the ho wealthy plousios brother in en · ho his autos humiliation tapeinōsis, because hoti like hōs a flower anthos in the meadow chortos he will pass away parerchomai. 11 For gar the ho sun hēlios rises anatellō with syn its ho scorching heat kausōn and kai withers xērainō the ho meadow chortos; · kai · ho its autos flower anthos falls ekpiptō and kai · ho its autos beauty euprepeia ho · ho fades apollymi. In the same way houtōs · kai the ho rich man plousios will fade away marainō while en pursuing ho his autos business poreia. 12 Blessed makarios is the man anēr who hos remains steadfast hypomenō when tested peirasmos, because hoti once he is shown to be ginomai genuine dokimos, he will receive lambanō the ho crown stephanos of ho life zōē that hos the Lord has promised epangellomai to those ho who love agapaō him autos. 13 No one mēdeis when tempted peirazō should say legō, “ I am being tempted peirazō by apo God theos”; · ho for gar God theos cannot be tempted apeirastos to do eimi evil kakos, and de he himself autos tempts peirazō no one oudeis else. 14 But de each person hekastos is tempted peirazō when by hypo · ho his own idios desire epithumia he is lured away exelkō and kai enticed deleazō. 15 Then eita · ho desire epithumia, when it has conceived syllambanō, gives birth to tiktō sin hamartia; · ho and de sin hamartia, when it is full-grown apoteleō, brings forth apokyeō death thanatos. 16 Do not be deceived planaō, my egō dear agapētos brothers adelphos. 17 Every pas good agathos gift dosis and kai every pas perfect teleios gift dōrēma is eimi from above anōthen, coming down katabainō from apo the ho Father patēr of ho lights phōs, with para whom hos there is no ou variation parallagē or ē shadow aposkiasma caused by change tropē. 18 According to his sovereign plan boulomai, he brought apokyeō us hēmeis into being through his word logos of truth alētheia, so that eis we hēmeis would be eimi a kind tis of first fruits aparchē of ho all he autos created ktisma.

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Salutation

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the dispersion:

Greetings.

Faith and Wisdom

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy,(A) because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.(B) But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.(C) 7,8 For the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Poverty and Riches

Let the brother or sister of humble means boast in having a high position 10 and the rich in having been humbled, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field.(D) 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.

Trial and Temptation

12 Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord[a] has promised to those who love him.(E) 13 No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14 But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when desire has conceived, it engenders sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.(F)

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[b](G) 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave birth to us by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 1.12 Gk he; other ancient authorities read God
  2. 1.17 Other ancient authorities read variation due to a shadow of turning