James 1
New Living Translation
Greetings from James
1 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
2 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 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. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
9 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
- 1:2 Greek brothers; also in 1:16, 19.
- 1:9 Greek The brother who is.
- 1:13 Or God should not be put to a test by evil people.
- 1:17a Greek from above, from the Father of lights.
- 1:17b Some manuscripts read He never changes, as a shifting shadow does.
- 1:18 Greek we became a kind of firstfruit of his creatures.
- 1:20a Greek A man’s anger.
- 1:20b Or the justice.
James 1
New American Standard Bible
The Testing of Your Faith
1 [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.
2 (G)Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter (H)various [c]trials, 3 knowing that (I)the testing of your (J)faith produces [d](K)endurance. 4 And let [e](L)endurance have its perfect [f]result, so that you may be [g](M)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 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. 6 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. 7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a (S)[i]double-minded man, (T)unstable in all his ways.
9 (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
- James 1:1 Or Jacob
- James 1:1 Lit in the Dispersion
- James 1:2 Or temptations
- James 1:3 Or steadfastness
- James 1:4 Or steadfastness
- James 1:4 Lit work
- James 1:4 Or mature
- James 1:5 Lit does not reproach
- James 1:8 I.e., a chronic doubter
- James 1:10 Or downfall
- James 1:10 Lit the flower of the grass
- James 1:12 Or passed the test
- James 1:13 Lit from
- James 1:13 Lit of evil things
- James 1:16 Or misled
- James 1:17 Lit shadow of turning
- James 1:18 Or a certain first fruits
- James 1:18 Lit of
- James 1:19 Or Know this
- James 1:21 Lit abundance of malice
- James 1:21 Or gentleness
- James 1:23 Lit the face of his birth; or nature
- James 1:24 Lit and he
- James 1:25 Lit a doer of a work
- James 1:25 Lit his doing
- James 1:26 Or control
- James 1:27 Lit from
Santiago 1
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Saludo
1 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
2 Tengan por sumo gozo(G), hermanos míos, cuando se hallen en[c] diversas pruebas[d](H), 3 sabiendo que la prueba(I) de su fe(J) produce paciencia[e](K), 4 y que la paciencia[f](L) tenga su perfecto resultado[g], para que sean perfectos[h](M) y completos, sin que nada les falte.
5 Y si a alguno de ustedes le falta sabiduría(N), que se la pida a Dios, quien da a todos abundantemente y sin reproche[i], y le será dada(O). 6 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). 7 No piense, pues, ese hombre, que recibirá cosa alguna del Señor, 8 siendo hombre de doble ánimo[j](S), inestable en todos sus caminos(T).
Lo transitorio de las riquezas
9 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, recibirá la corona de la vida(Z) que el Señor ha prometido(AA) a los que lo aman(AB). 13 Que nadie diga cuando es tentado: «Soy tentado por[k] Dios(AC)». Porque Dios no puede ser tentado por el mal[l] y Él mismo no tienta a nadie. 14 Sino que cada uno es tentado cuando es llevado y seducido por su propia pasión[m]. 15 Después, cuando la pasión[n] ha concebido(AD), da a luz el pecado; y cuando el pecado es consumado(AE), engendra la muerte.
16 Amados hermanos míos(AF), no se engañen(AG). 17 Toda buena dádiva y todo don perfecto viene[o] 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[p] primicias de sus criaturas(AN).
Hacedores de la palabra
19 Esto lo saben(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[q], reciban ustedes con humildad la palabra implantada(AU), que es poderosa para salvar sus almas.
22 Sean hacedores de la palabra(AV) y no solamente oidores que se engañan a sí mismos. 23 Porque si alguien es oidor de la palabra, y no hacedor, es semejante a un hombre que mira su rostro natural[r] en un espejo(AW); 24 pues después de mirarse a sí mismo e irse, inmediatamente[s] se olvida de qué clase de persona es. 25 Pero el que mira atentamente[t] a la ley perfecta, la ley de la libertad(AX), y permanece en ella, no habiéndose vuelto un oidor olvidadizo sino un hacedor eficaz[u], este será bienaventurado en lo que hace[v](AY).
26 Si alguien 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 mancha delante de nuestro Dios y Padre(BA) es esta: visitar(BB) a los huérfanos(BC) y a las viudas en sus aflicciones[w], y guardarse sin mancha del mundo(BD).
Notas al pie
- Santiago 1:1 O Jacobo.
- Santiago 1:1 O dispersas.
- Santiago 1:2 O confronten.
- Santiago 1:2 O tentaciones.
- Santiago 1:3 O perseverancia.
- Santiago 1:4 O perseverancia.
- Santiago 1:4 U obra perfecta.
- Santiago 1:4 O maduros.
- Santiago 1:5 Lit. no reprochando.
- Santiago 1:8 O que duda.
- Santiago 1:13 Lit. de.
- Santiago 1:13 Lit. de cosas malas.
- Santiago 1:14 O concupiscencia.
- Santiago 1:15 O concupiscencia.
- Santiago 1:17 Lit. es.
- Santiago 1:18 Lit. ciertas.
- Santiago 1:21 Lit. toda la abundancia de malicia.
- Santiago 1:23 O naturaleza; lit. el rostro de su nacimiento.
- Santiago 1:24 Lit. e inmediatamente.
- Santiago 1:25 O considera cuidadosamente.
- Santiago 1:25 Lit. hacedor de una obra.
- Santiago 1:25 Lit. en su hacer.
- Santiago 1:27 O necesidades, o penas.
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