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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.[a](A) 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.(B)

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger,(C) 20 for human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.[b] 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.(D)

22 But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.(E) 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves[c] in a mirror;(F) 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.(G)

26 If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.(H) 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 1.17 Other ancient authorities read variation due to a shadow of turning
  2. 1.20 Or justice
  3. 1.23 Gk at the face of his birth

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above,(A) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,(B) who does not change(C) like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth(D) through the word of truth,(E) that we might be a kind of firstfruits(F) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

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

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

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

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17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

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