James 1:17-27

English Standard Version

¹⁷^(A)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from ^(B)the Father of lights, ^(C)with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.^[a] ¹⁸^(D)Of his own will he ^(E)brought us forth by the word of truth, ^(F)that we should be a kind of ^(G)firstfruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

¹⁹^(H)Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person ^(I)be quick to hear, ^(J)slow to speak, ^(K)slow to anger; ²⁰for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ²¹Therefore ^(L)put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with ^(M)meekness the implanted word, ^(N)which is able to save your souls.

²²But be ^(O)doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵But the one who looks into the perfect law, ^(P)the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, ^(Q)he will be blessed in his doing.

²⁶If anyone thinks he is religious ^(R)and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's ^(S)religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: ^(T)to visit ^(U)orphans and widows in their affliction, and ^(V)to keep oneself ^(W)unstained from the world.