James 1:22-27

Holman Christian Standard Bible

²² But^(A) 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^[a] 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.^(B)

²⁶ If anyone^[b] thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue,^(C) then his religion is useless and he deceives himself. ²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion before our^[c] God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows^(D) in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.^(E)