Greeting

1 James,^(A) a slave of God^(B) and of the Lord Jesus Christ:

To the 12 tribes^(C) in the Dispersion.^[a](D)

Greetings.^(E)

Trials and Maturity

² Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,^{(F) 3} knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

⁵ Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.^{(G) 6} But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ An indecisive^[b] man is unstable in all his ways.^(H)

⁹ The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the one who is rich should boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field.^{(I) 11} For the sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will wither away while pursuing his activities.^(J)

¹² A man who endures trials^[c] is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown^(K) of life that God^[d] has promised to those who love Him.^(L)

¹³ No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil,^[e] and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.^{(M) 15} Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.^(N)

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dearly loved brothers.^{(O) 17} Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.^{(P) 18} By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth^[f] so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.^(Q)

Hearing and Doing the Word

¹⁹ My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger,^{(R) 20} for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. ²¹ Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil,^[g] humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.^[h](S)

²² But^(T) 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^[i] 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.^(U)

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