James,(A) a servant of God(B) and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes(C) scattered(D) among the nations:

Greetings.(E)

Trials and Temptations

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,(F) because you know that the testing of your faith(G) produces perseverance.(H) Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature(I) and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,(J) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.(K) But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,(L) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded(M) and unstable(N) in all they do.

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.(O) 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.(P) 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat(Q) and withers(R) the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.(S) In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial(T) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life(U) that the Lord has promised to those who love him.(V)

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own(W) evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;(X) and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.(Y)

16 Don’t be deceived,(Z) my dear brothers and sisters.(AA) 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above,(AB) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,(AC) who does not change(AD) like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth(AE) through the word of truth,(AF) that we might be a kind of firstfruits(AG) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

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

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

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

Notas al pie

  1. James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.

Greetings from James

This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad.

Greetings!

Faith and Endurance

Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Believers who are[b] poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong,[c] and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.[d] He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.[e] 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.[f]

Listening and Doing

19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger[g] does not produce the righteousness[h] God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Notas al pie

  1. 1:2 Greek brothers; also in 1:16, 19.
  2. 1:9 Greek The brother who is.
  3. 1:13 Or God should not be put to a test by evil people.
  4. 1:17a Greek from above, from the Father of lights.
  5. 1:17b Some manuscripts read He never changes, as a shifting shadow does.
  6. 1:18 Greek we became a kind of firstfruit of his creatures.
  7. 1:20a Greek A man’s anger.
  8. 1:20b Or the justice.

The Testing of Your Faith

[a](A)James, a (B)bond-servant of God and (C)of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To (D)the twelve tribes who are [b](E)dispersed abroad: (F)Greetings.

(G)Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter (H)various [c]trials, knowing that (I)the testing of your (J)faith produces [d](K)endurance. And let [e](L)endurance have its perfect [f]result, so that you may be [g](M)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

But if any of you (N)lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [h]without reproach, and (O)it will be given to him. But he must (P)ask in faith (Q)without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, (R)driven and tossed by the wind. For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a (S)[i]double-minded man, (T)unstable in all his ways.

(U)Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 but the rich person is to glory in his [j]humiliation, because (V)like [k]flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with (W)its scorching heat and (X)withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out.

12 (Y)Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has [l]been approved, he will receive (Z)the crown of life which the Lord (AA)has promised to those who (AB)love Him. 13 No one is to say when he is tempted, “(AC)I am being tempted [m]by God”; for God cannot be tempted [n]by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then (AD)when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and (AE)sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. 16 (AF)Do not be [o]deceived, (AG)my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is (AH)from above, coming down from (AI)the Father of lights, (AJ)with whom there is no variation or [p]shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of (AK)His will He (AL)gave us birth by (AM)the word of truth, so that we would be [q]a kind of (AN)first fruits [r]among His creatures.

19 [s](AO)You know this, (AP)my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, (AQ)slow to speak, and (AR)slow to anger; 20 for a man’s (AS)anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, (AT)ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all [t]that remains of wickedness, in [u]humility receive (AU)the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 (AV)But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his [v]natural face (AW)in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, [w]he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, (AX)the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but [x]an active doer, this person will be (AY)blessed in [y]what he does.

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not [z](AZ)bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion (BA)in the sight of our God and Father is this: to (BB)visit (BC)orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained [aa]by (BD)the world.

Notas al pie

  1. James 1:1 Or Jacob
  2. James 1:1 Lit in the Dispersion
  3. James 1:2 Or temptations
  4. James 1:3 Or steadfastness
  5. James 1:4 Or steadfastness
  6. James 1:4 Lit work
  7. James 1:4 Or mature
  8. James 1:5 Lit does not reproach
  9. James 1:8 I.e., a chronic doubter
  10. James 1:10 Or downfall
  11. James 1:10 Lit the flower of the grass
  12. James 1:12 Or passed the test
  13. James 1:13 Lit from
  14. James 1:13 Lit of evil things
  15. James 1:16 Or misled
  16. James 1:17 Lit shadow of turning
  17. James 1:18 Or a certain first fruits
  18. James 1:18 Lit of
  19. James 1:19 Or Know this
  20. James 1:21 Lit abundance of malice
  21. James 1:21 Or gentleness
  22. James 1:23 Lit the face of his birth; or nature
  23. James 1:24 Lit and he
  24. James 1:25 Lit a doer of a work
  25. James 1:25 Lit his doing
  26. James 1:26 Or control
  27. James 1:27 Lit from

Saludo

Santiago [a](A), siervo de Dios(B) y del Señor Jesucristo(C):

A las doce tribus(D) que están en la dispersión[b](E): Saludos(F).

Fe y sabiduría

Tened por sumo gozo(G), hermanos míos, el que[c] os halléis en[d] diversas pruebas[e](H), sabiendo que la prueba(I) de vuestra fe(J) produce paciencia[f](K), y que la paciencia[g](L) tenga su perfecto resultado[h], para que seáis perfectos[i](M) y completos, sin que os falte nada.

Pero si alguno de vosotros se ve falto de sabiduría(N), que la pida a Dios, el cual da a todos abundantemente y sin reproche[j], y le será dada(O). Pero que pida con fe(P), sin dudar(Q); porque el que duda es semejante a la ola del mar, impulsada por el viento y echada de una parte a otra(R). No piense, pues, ese hombre, que recibirá cosa alguna del Señor, siendo hombre de doble ánimo[k](S), inestable en todos sus caminos(T).

Lo transitorio de las riquezas

Pero que el hermano de condición humilde se gloríe en su alta posición(U), 10 y el rico en su humillación, pues él pasará como la flor de la hierba(V). 11 Porque el sol sale con calor abrasador(W) y seca la hierba(X), y su flor se cae y la hermosura de su apariencia perece; así también se marchitará el rico en medio de sus empresas.

La tentación explicada

12 Bienaventurado el hombre que persevera(Y) bajo la prueba, porque una vez que ha sido aprobado[l], recibirá la corona de la vida(Z) que el Señor ha prometido(AA) a los que le aman(AB). 13 Que nadie diga cuando es tentado: Soy tentado por[m] Dios(AC); porque Dios no puede ser tentado por el mal[n] y Él mismo no tienta a nadie. 14 Sino que cada uno es tentado cuando es llevado y seducido por su propia pasión[o]. 15 Después, cuando la pasión[p] ha concebido(AD), da a luz el pecado; y cuando el pecado es consumado(AE), engendra la muerte. 16 Amados hermanos míos(AF), no os engañéis(AG). 17 Toda buena dádiva y todo don perfecto viene[q] de lo alto(AH), desciende del Padre de las luces(AI), con el cual no hay cambio(AJ) ni sombra de variación. 18 En el ejercicio de su voluntad(AK), Él nos hizo nacer(AL) por la palabra de verdad(AM), para que fuéramos las[r] primicias de sus criaturas(AN).

Hacedores de la palabra

19 Esto sabéis[s](AO), mis amados hermanos(AP). Pero que cada uno sea pronto para oír, tardo para hablar(AQ), tardo para la ira(AR); 20 pues la ira del hombre no obra la justicia de Dios(AS). 21 Por lo cual, desechando toda inmundicia(AT) y todo resto de malicia[t], recibid con humildad[u] la palabra implantada(AU), que es poderosa para salvar vuestras almas. 22 Sed hacedores de la palabra(AV) y no solamente oidores que se engañan a sí mismos. 23 Porque si alguno es oidor de la palabra, y no hacedor, es semejante a un hombre que mira su rostro natural[v] en un espejo(AW); 24 pues después de mirarse a sí mismo e irse, inmediatamente[w] se olvida de qué clase de persona es. 25 Pero el que mira atentamente[x] a la ley perfecta, la ley de la libertad(AX), y permanece en ella, no habiéndose vuelto un oidor olvidadizo sino un hacedor eficaz[y], este será bienaventurado en lo que hace[z](AY). 26 Si alguno se cree religioso, pero no refrena su lengua(AZ), sino que engaña a su propio corazón, la religión del tal es vana. 27 La religión pura y sin mácula delante de nuestro Dios y Padre(BA) es esta: visitar(BB) a los huérfanos(BC) y a las viudas en sus aflicciones[aa], y guardarse sin mancha del mundo(BD).

Notas al pie

  1. Santiago 1:1 O, Jacobo
  2. Santiago 1:1 O, dispersas
  3. Santiago 1:2 Lit., cuando
  4. Santiago 1:2 O, confrontéis
  5. Santiago 1:2 O, tentaciones
  6. Santiago 1:3 O, perseverancia
  7. Santiago 1:4 O, perseverancia
  8. Santiago 1:4 U, obra perfecta
  9. Santiago 1:4 O, maduros
  10. Santiago 1:5 Lit., no reprochando
  11. Santiago 1:8 O, que duda, o, que vacila
  12. Santiago 1:12 O, habiendo pasado la prueba
  13. Santiago 1:13 Lit., de
  14. Santiago 1:13 Lit., de cosas malas
  15. Santiago 1:14 O, concupiscencia
  16. Santiago 1:15 O, concupiscencia
  17. Santiago 1:17 Lit., es
  18. Santiago 1:18 Lit., ciertas
  19. Santiago 1:19 O, Sabed esto
  20. Santiago 1:21 Lit., toda la abundancia de malicia
  21. Santiago 1:21 O, mansedumbre
  22. Santiago 1:23 O, naturaleza; lit., el rostro de su nacimiento
  23. Santiago 1:24 Lit., e inmediatamente
  24. Santiago 1:25 O, considera cuidadosamente
  25. Santiago 1:25 Lit., hacedor de una obra
  26. Santiago 1:25 Lit., en su hacer
  27. Santiago 1:27 O, necesidades, o, penas