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^(A) evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;^(B) and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.^(C)

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived,^(D) my dear brothers and sisters.^{(E) 17} Every good and perfect gift is from above,^(F) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,^(G) who does not change^(H) like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth^(I) through the word of truth,^(J) that we might be a kind of firstfruits^(K) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters,^(L) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak^(M) and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger^(N) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of^(O) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,^(P) which can save you.

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.^{(Q) 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,^(R) and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.^(S)

²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues^(T) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after^(U) orphans and widows^(V) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.^(W)