Greeting

1 ^(A)James, a servant^[a] of God and ^(B)of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To ^(C)the twelve tribes in ^(D)the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Testing of Your Faith

^2 (E)Count it all joy, my brothers,^[b] when you meet trials ^(F)of various kinds, ³ for you know that ^(G)the testing of your faith ^(H)produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be ^(I)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

^5 (J)If any of you lacks wisdom, ^(K)let him ask God, ^(L)who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But ^(M)let him ask in faith, ^(N)with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like ^(O)a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ^8 (P)he is a double-minded man, ^(Q)unstable in all his ways.

⁹ Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and ^(R)the rich in his humiliation, because ^(S)like a flower of the grass^[c] he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and ^(T)withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

^12 (U)Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive ^(V)the crown of life, ^(W)which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Greeting

1 ^(A)James, a servant^[a] of God and ^(B)of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To ^(C)the twelve tribes in ^(D)the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Testing of Your Faith

^2 (E)Count it all joy, my brothers,^[b] when you meet trials ^(F)of various kinds, ³ for you know that ^(G)the testing of your faith ^(H)produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be ^(I)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

^5 (J)If any of you lacks wisdom, ^(K)let him ask God, ^(L)who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But ^(M)let him ask in faith, ^(N)with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like ^(O)a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ^8 (P)he is a double-minded man, ^(Q)unstable in all his ways.

⁹ Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and ^(R)the rich in his humiliation, because ^(S)like a flower of the grass^[c] he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and ^(T)withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

^12 (U)Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive ^(V)the crown of life, ^(W)which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

^18 (A)He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like ^(B)a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

²⁰ And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? ^21 (C)It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in ^(D)three measures of flour, until it was ^(E)all leavened.”

The Narrow Door

^22 (F)He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and ^(G)journeying toward Jerusalem. ²³ And someone said to him, “Lord, ^(H)will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, ^24 (I)“Strive ^(J)to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. ^25 (K)When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ^(L)‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ^(M)‘I do not know where you come from.’ ²⁶ Then you will begin to say, ^(N)‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ But he will say, ‘I tell you, ^(O)I do not know where you come from. ^(P)Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ ^28 (Q)In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see ^(R)Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but ^(S)you yourselves cast out. ²⁹ And ^(T)people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and ^(U)recline at table in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ And behold, ^(V)some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Lament over Jerusalem

³¹ At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from ^(W)here, for ^(X)Herod wants to kill you.” ³² And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day ^(Y)I finish my course. ³³ Nevertheless, ^(Z)I ^(AA)must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that ^(AB)a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ ^34 (AC)O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that ^(AD)kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! ^(AE)How often would I have ^(AF)gathered ^(AG)your children together ^(AH)as a hen gathers her brood ^(AI)under her wings, and ^(AJ)you were not willing! ³⁵ Behold, ^(AK)your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ^(AL)‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”