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

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22 But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. 23 For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone[a] who gazes at his own face[b] in a mirror. 24 For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets[c] what sort of person he was. 25 But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there,[d] and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out—he[e] will be blessed in what he does.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:23 tn The word for “man” or “individual” is ἀνήρ (anēr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” However, as BDAG 79 s.v. 2 says, here it is “equivalent to τὶς someone, a person.”
  2. James 1:23 tn Grk “the face of his beginning [or origin].”
  3. James 1:24 tn Grk “and he has gone out and immediately has forgotten.”
  4. James 1:25 tn Grk “continues.”
  5. James 1:25 tn Grk “this one.”
  6. James 1:25 tn Grk “in his doing.”