21 Therefore, get rid of(A) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,(B) which can save you.

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

Read full chapter

21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil,[a] humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.[b](A)

22 But(B) be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face[c] in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works—this person will be blessed in what he does.(C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. James 1:21 Lit evil excess
  2. James 1:21 Lit save your souls
  3. James 1:23 Lit at the face of his birth

21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Read full chapter

Doers—Not Hearers Only

21 Therefore (A)lay aside all filthiness and [a]overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, (B)which is able to save your souls.

22 But (C)be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For (D)if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But (E)he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, (F)this one will be blessed in what he does.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. James 1:21 abundance

21 So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you.

22 Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice. 23 If you listen to the word, but do not put it into practice you are like people who look in a mirror and see themselves as they are. 24 They take a good look at themselves and then go away and at once forget what they look like. 25 But if you look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, and keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice—you will be blessed by God in what you do.

Read full chapter