James 1:19-27
English Standard Version
Hearing and Doing the Word
19 (A)Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person (B)be quick to hear, (C)slow to speak, (D)slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore (E)put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with (F)meekness the implanted word, (G)which is able to save your souls.
22 But be (H)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, (I)the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, (J)he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious (K)and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's (L)religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: (M)to visit (N)orphans and widows in their affliction, and (O)to keep oneself (P)unstained from the world.
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Matthew 13:18-23
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 (A)“Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of (B)the kingdom and (C)does not understand it, (D)the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately (E)receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but (F)endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately (G)he falls away.[a] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but (H)the cares of (I)the world and (J)the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and (K)understands it. He indeed (L)bears fruit and yields, in one case (M)a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
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- Matthew 13:21 Or stumbles
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.