James 1:18-27

New American Standard Bible 1995

¹⁸ In the exercise of ^(A)His will He ^(B)brought us forth by ^(C)the word of truth, so that we would be ^[a]a kind of ^(D)first fruits ^[b]among His creatures.

^19 [c]This ^(E)you know, ^(F)my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, ^(G)slow to speak and ^(H)slow to anger; ²⁰ for ^(I)the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore, ^(J)putting aside all filthiness and all ^[d]that remains of wickedness, in ^[e]humility receive ^(K)the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. ^22 (L)But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his ^[f]natural face ^(M)in a mirror; ²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, ^[g]he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. ²⁵ But one who looks intently at the perfect law, ^(N)the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but ^[h]an effectual doer, this man will be ^(O)blessed in ^[i]what he does.

²⁶ If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not ^[j](P)bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion ^(Q)in the sight of our God and Father is this: to ^(R)visit ^(S)orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained ^[k]by ^(T)the world.