James 1
King James Version
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
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.
James 1
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Greeting
1 James,(A) a slave of God(B) and of the Lord Jesus Christ:
To the 12 tribes(C) in the Dispersion.[a](D)
Greetings.(E)
Trials and Maturity
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,(F) 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.(G) 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 An indecisive[b] man is unstable in all his ways.(H)
9 The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation, 10 but the one who is rich should boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field.(I) 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will wither away while pursuing his activities.(J)
12 A man who endures trials[c] is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown(K) of life that God[d] has promised to those who love Him.(L)
13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil,[e] and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.(M) 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.(N)
16 Don’t be deceived, my dearly loved brothers.(O) 17 Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.(P) 18 By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth[f] so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.(Q)
Hearing and Doing the Word
19 My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger,(R) 20 for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil,[g] humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.[h](S)
22 But(T) 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[i] 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.(U)
26 If anyone[j] thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue,(V) then his religion is useless and he deceives himself. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our[k] God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows(W) in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.(X)
Footnotes
- James 1:1 Jewish people scattered throughout Gentile lands who spoke Gk and were influenced by Gk culture.
- James 1:8 Or A doubting, or A double-minded
- James 1:12 Lit trial, used as a collective
- James 1:12 Other mss read that the Lord
- James 1:13 Or evil persons, or evil things
- James 1:18 = the gospel
- James 1:21 Lit evil excess
- James 1:21 Lit save your souls
- James 1:23 Lit at the face of his birth
- James 1:26 Other mss add among you
- James 1:27 Or before the
James 1
Darby Translation
1 James, bondman of God and of [the] Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which [are] in the dispersion, greeting.
2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various temptations,
3 knowing that the proving of your faith works endurance.
4 But let endurance have [its] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all freely and reproaches not, and it shall be given to him:
6 but let him ask in faith, nothing doubting. For he that doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed about;
7 for let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord;
8 [he is] a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 But let the brother of low degree glory in his elevation,
10 and the rich in his humiliation, because as [the] grass's flower he will pass away.
11 For the sun has risen with its burning heat, and has withered the grass, and its flower has fallen, and the comeliness of its look has perished: thus the rich also shall wither in his goings.
12 Blessed [is the] man who endures temptation; for, having been proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which He has promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man, being tempted, say, I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted by evil things, and himself tempts no one.
14 But every one is tempted, drawn away, and enticed by his own lust;
15 then lust, having conceived, gives birth to sin; but sin fully completed brings forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of turning.
18 According to his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a certain first-fruits of *his* creatures.
19 So that, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
20 for man's wrath does not work God's righteousness.
21 Wherefore, laying aside all filthiness and abounding of wickedness, accept with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of [the] word and not hearers only, beguiling yourselves.
23 For if any man be a hearer of [the] word and not a doer, *he* is like to a man considering his natural face in a mirror:
24 for he has considered himself and is gone away, and straightway he has forgotten what he was like.
25 But *he* that fixes his view on [the] perfect law, that of liberty, and abides in [it], being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of [the] work, *he* shall be blessed in his doing.
26 If any one think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
James 1
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
1 James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: Greetings.
Endure Your Trials With Joy, Asking God For Wisdom And Viewing Life From His Standpoint
2 Regard it all joy, my brothers, whenever you fall-into[a] various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith is producing endurance. 4 And let endurance be having its complete[b] work in order that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing. 5 And if any of you is lacking wisdom, let him be asking from the God giving generously to all and not reproaching[c], and it will be given to him. 6 But let him be asking in faith, not doubting[d] at all. For the one doubting is like a surge of the sea being blown-by-wind and tossed. 7 For let that person not be supposing that he will receive anything from the Lord— 8 a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 And let the lowly[e] brother be boasting in his height, 10 and the rich one in his lowliness, because he will pass-away like a flower of grass. 11 For the sun rose with the burning-heat and dried-up the grass, and its flower fell-off and the beauty of its appearance perished. In this manner also the rich one will fade-away in his pursuits. 12 Blessed[f] is the man who endures the trial, because having become[g] approved, he will receive the crown of [h] life which He promised to the ones loving Him.
But Temptation To Evil Comes From Within, Not From God
13 Let no one being tempted be saying that “I am being tempted by[i] God”. For God is not-tempted by evils. And He Himself tempts no one, 14 but each one is tempted by[j] his own desire while being drawn-away[k] and enticed[l]. 15 Then the desire, having conceived, gives-birth to sin. And the sin, having been fully-formed[m], brings-forth death. 16 Do not be deceived!
Receive God’s Lifegiving Gift of The Implanted Word With Gentleness Toward Others, Not Anger
My[n] beloved brothers, 17 every good gift-giving[o] and every perfect gift-given is from-above, coming down from the Father of lights[p], with Whom there is no variation[q] or shadow[r] of turning. 18 Having willed[s] it, He brought[t] us forth by the word of truth so that we might be a kind-of firstfruit of His creatures. 19 You know[u] this, my beloved brothers, but[v] let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow into anger. 20 For the anger of a man does not produce[w] the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore having laid-aside all filthiness and abundance[x] of badness, receive with gentleness the implanted word being able to save your souls.
But Be Doers of The Word, Not Hearers Only
22 But be[y] doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding[z] yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one is like a man considering[aa] the face of his birth[ab] in a mirror. 24 For he considered himself and has gone-away and immediately forgot[ac] what-sort of man he was. 25 But the one having looked into the perfect law of liberty and having continued, not having become a forgetful[ad] hearer, but a doer of work— this one will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks that he is religious while not bridling[ae] his tongue, but deceiving his heart, the religion[af] of this one is worthless[ag]. 27 This is pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father— to be looking-after orphans and widows in their affliction; to be keeping oneself unspotted by the world.
Footnotes
- James 1:2 Or, encounter.
- James 1:4 Or, perfect, finished.
- James 1:5 Or, reprimanding, scolding.
- James 1:6 Or, being divided in the mind, wavering, disputing with himself.
- James 1:9 Or, materially poor, humble.
- James 1:12 Or, Fortunate (from God’s point of view).
- James 1:12 Or, been.
- James 1:12 That is, consisting of, belonging to.
- James 1:13 Or from.
- James 1:14 by his own desire... enticed. Or, while being drawn-away and enticed by his own desire.
- James 1:14 Or, pulled-out.
- James 1:14 Or, baited, lured, entrapped.
- James 1:15 Or, having been brought to completion, having run its course.
- James 1:16 Others start this next main section with v 19. See the note there.
- James 1:17 Or, act-of-giving.
- James 1:17 That is, Creator of sun, moon, and stars.
- James 1:17 Or, change.
- James 1:17 That is, shadow caused by turning, such as when a light moves around an object. In other words, the changing creation does not cause changes in God.
- James 1:18 Or, wished, wanted, desired.
- James 1:18 That is, gave us spiritual birth.
- James 1:19 Others start the new point here, taking this as a command (‘Know this’) to know or understand what follows, and omitting ‘but’.
- James 1:19 That is, you know the gift of salvation comes down from God, who brought us forth by the word of truth, but receive this word not with anger toward others, but with gentleness. As seen in Acts 11, 15 and 21, this was an issue for some Jewish Christians.
- James 1:20 Or, accomplish, work, bring about.
- James 1:21 Or, overflow, surplus.
- James 1:22 Or, become.
- James 1:22 That is, deluding yourselves that you have genuinely received God’s word.
- James 1:23 Or, looking-closely-at.
- James 1:23 Or, existence. That is, his natural face.
- James 1:24 He saw himself as he is, but it had no lasting effect on him.
- James 1:25 Lit, hearer characterized by forgetfulness.
- James 1:26 Or, restraining, controlling.
- James 1:26 Or, worship, religious service.
- James 1:26 Or, futile, pointless.
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Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
