⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges^(A) with evil thoughts?

²⁴ Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”^(A)

Judging Others^(A)

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.^{(B) 2} For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.^(C)

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.^(A) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[a] or judges them^(B) speaks against the law^(C) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,^(D) but sitting in judgment on it.

⁹ “So I have caused you to be despised^(A) and humiliated^(B) before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality^(C) in matters of the law.”^(D)

Psalm 58^[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.^[b]

1 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

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,^{(F) 3} because you know that the testing of your faith^(G) produces perseverance.^{(H) 4} Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature^(I) and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ 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) 6} 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. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded^(M) and unstable^(N) in all they do.

⁹ 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)