James 1:16-18

Expanded Bible

¹⁶ My ·dear [beloved] brothers and sisters [^Cfellow believers], do not be ·fooled [deceived] about this. ¹⁷ Every good ·action [or act of giving] and every perfect gift ·is from God [^Lcomes from above]. These good gifts come down from the ·Creator of the sun, moon, and stars [^Lthe father of lights; ^Creferring to God’s creation of the heavenly bodies (Gen. 1:14–19; Ps. 136:7–9; Jer. 31:35)], who does not change like their shifting shadows. ¹⁸ God ·decided [chose; willed] to give us ·life [birth] through the ·word of truth [true message] so we might be ·the most important [or the first of many; ^La kind of firstfruits; ^Cfirstfruits were the first crops to be harvested and guaranteed the coming harvest; Ex. 34:22; 2 Thess. 2:13; Rev. 14:4] of all ·the things he made [or his creatures].