Listening and Doing

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

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

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

¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey^(A) the law who will be declared righteous.

³⁰ “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ ³¹ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before^(A) you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy^(B) for unjust gain.^{(C) 32} Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs^(D) with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.^(E)