16 (A)Do not be [a]deceived, (B)my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is (C)from above, coming down from (D)the Father of lights, (E)with whom there is no variation or [b]shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of (F)His will He (G)gave us birth by (H)the word of truth, so that we would be [c]a kind of (I)first fruits [d]among His creatures.

19 [e](J)You know this, (K)my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, (L)slow to speak, and (M)slow to anger; 20 for a man’s (N)anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, (O)ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all [f]that remains of wickedness, in [g]humility receive (P)the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 (Q)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 [h]natural face (R)in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, [i]he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, (S)the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but [j]an active doer, this person will be (T)blessed in [k]what he does.

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not [l](U)bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion (V)in the sight of our God and Father is this: to (W)visit (X)orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained [m]by (Y)the world.

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:16 Or misled
  2. James 1:17 Lit shadow of turning
  3. James 1:18 Or a certain first fruits
  4. James 1:18 Lit of
  5. James 1:19 Or Know this
  6. James 1:21 Lit abundance of malice
  7. James 1:21 Or gentleness
  8. James 1:23 Lit the face of his birth; or nature
  9. James 1:24 Lit and he
  10. James 1:25 Lit a doer of a work
  11. James 1:25 Lit his doing
  12. James 1:26 Or control
  13. James 1:27 Lit from

16 Don’t be deceived,(A) my dear brothers and sisters.(B) 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above,(C) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,(D) who does not change(E) like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth(F) through the word of truth,(G) that we might be a kind of firstfruits(H) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters,(I) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak(J) and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger(K) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of(L) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,(M) which can save you.

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

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues(Q) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after(R) orphans and widows(S) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.(T)

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16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

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