James 1:10-2:5

English Standard Version

¹⁰ and ^(A)the rich in his humiliation, because ^(B)like a flower of the grass^[a] he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and ^(C)withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

^12 (D)Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive ^(E)the crown of life, ^(F)which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire ^(G)when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and ^(H)sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ^17 (I)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from ^(J)the Father of lights, ^(K)with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.^{[b] 18 (L)}Of his own will he ^(M)brought us forth by the word of truth, ^(N)that we should be a kind of ^(O)firstfruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

^19 (P)Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person ^(Q)be quick to hear, ^(R)slow to speak, ^(S)slow to anger; ²⁰ for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore ^(T)put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with ^(U)meekness the implanted word, ^(V)which is able to save your souls.

²² But be ^(W)doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵ But the one who looks into the perfect law, ^(X)the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, ^(Y)he will be blessed in his doing.

²⁶ If anyone thinks he is religious ^(Z)and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's ^(AA)religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: ^(AB)to visit ^(AC)orphans and widows in their affliction, and ^(AD)to keep oneself ^(AE)unstained from the world.

The Sin of Partiality

2 My brothers,^{[c] (AF)}show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(AG)the Lord of glory. ² For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, ³ and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” ^(AH)while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” ⁴ have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become ^(AI)judges with evil thoughts? ⁵ Listen, my beloved brothers, ^(AJ)has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be ^(AK)rich in faith and heirs of ^(AL)the kingdom, ^(AM)which he has promised to those who love him?