Cornelius Sends a Delegation

10 There was a certain man in ^(A)Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian ^[a]Regiment, ^2 (B)a devout man and one who ^(C)feared God with all his household, who gave ^[b]alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. ³ About ^[c]the ninth hour of the day ^(D)he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

⁴ And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”

So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. ⁵ Now ^(E)send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with ^(F)Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. ^(G)He^[d] will tell you what you must do.” ⁷ And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. ⁸ So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

⁹ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, ^(H)Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about ^[e]the sixth hour. ¹⁰ Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and ^(I)saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³ And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! ^(J)For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

¹⁵ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, ^(K)“What God has ^[f]cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Summoned to Caesarea

¹⁷ Now while Peter ^[g]wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸ And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹ While Peter thought about the vision, ^(L)the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ^20 (M)Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men ^[h]who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

²² And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and ^(N)has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” ²³ Then he invited them in and lodged them.

On the next day Peter went away with them, ^(O)and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter Meets Cornelius

²⁴ And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, ^(P)“Stand up; I myself am also a man.” ²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. ²⁸ Then he said to them, “You know how ^(Q)unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But ^(R)God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ²⁹ Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

³⁰ So Cornelius said, ^[i]“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, ^(S)a man stood before me ^(T)in bright clothing, ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, ^(U)your prayer has been heard, and ^(V)your ^[j]alms are remembered in the sight of God. ³² Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. ^[k]When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³ So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

Preaching to Cornelius’ Household

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ^(W)“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵ But ^(X)in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is ^(Y)accepted by Him. ³⁶ The word which God sent to the ^[l]children of Israel, ^(Z)preaching peace through Jesus Christ—^(AA)He is Lord of all— ³⁷ that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and ^(AB)began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how ^(AC)God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who ^(AD)went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, ^(AE)for God was with Him. ³⁹ And we are ^(AF)witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom ^[m]they ^(AG)killed by hanging on a tree. ⁴⁰ Him ^(AH)God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, ^41 (AI)not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us ^(AJ)who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. ⁴² And ^(AK)He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify ^(AL)that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge ^(AM)of the living and the dead. ^43 (AN)To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, ^(AO)whoever believes in Him will receive ^(AP)remission^[n] of sins.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, ^(AQ)the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ^45 (AR)And ^[o]those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, ^(AS)because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit ^(AT)just as we have?” ^48 (AU)And he commanded them to be baptized ^(AV)in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Peter Defends God’s Grace

11 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. ² And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, ^(AW)those of the circumcision contended with him, ³ saying, ^(AX)“You went in to uncircumcised men ^(AY)and ate with them!”

⁴ But Peter explained it to them ^(AZ)in order from the beginning, saying: ^5 (BA)“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. ⁶ When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ⁷ And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ ¹⁰ Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. ¹¹ At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. ¹² Then ^(BB)the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover ^(BC)these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. ^13 (BD)And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, ¹⁴ who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ ¹⁵ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, ^(BE)as upon us at the beginning. ¹⁶ Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ^(BF)‘John indeed baptized with water, but ^(BG)you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ^17 (BH)If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(BI)who was I that I could withstand God?”

¹⁸ When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ^(BJ)“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Barnabas and Saul at Antioch

^19 (BK)Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. ²⁰ But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to ^(BL)the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. ²¹ And ^(BM)the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and ^(BN)turned to the Lord.

²² Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out ^(BO)Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. ²³ When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and ^(BP)encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. ²⁴ For he was a good man, ^(BQ)full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. ^(BR)And a great many people were added to the Lord.

²⁵ Then Barnabas departed for ^(BS)Tarsus to seek Saul. ²⁶ And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Relief to Judea

²⁷ And in these days ^(BT)prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ Then one of them, named ^(BU)Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of ^(BV)Claudius Caesar. ²⁹ Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send ^(BW)relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. ^30 (BX)This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Herod’s Violence to the Church

12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. ² Then he killed James ^(BY)the brother of John with the sword. ³ And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during ^(BZ)the Days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ So ^(CA)when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four ^[p]squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

Peter Freed from Prison

⁵ Peter was therefore kept in prison, but ^[q]constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. ⁶ And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were ^[r]keeping the prison. ⁷ Now behold, ^(CB)an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. ⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” ⁹ So he went out and followed him, and ^(CC)did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought ^(CD)he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, ^(CE)which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

¹¹ And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that ^(CF)the Lord has sent His angel, and ^(CG)has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

¹² So, when he had considered this, ^(CH)he came to the house of Mary, the mother of ^(CI)John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together ^(CJ)praying. ¹³ And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. ¹⁵ But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, ^(CK)“It is his angel.”

¹⁶ Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ But ^(CL)motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.

¹⁸ Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small ^[s]stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.

And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

Herod’s Violent Death

²⁰ Now Herod had been very angry with the people of ^(CM)Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus ^[t]the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because ^(CN)their country was ^[u]supplied with food by the king’s country.

²¹ So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. ²² And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” ²³ Then immediately an angel of the Lord ^(CO)struck him, because ^(CP)he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and ^[v]died.

²⁴ But ^(CQ)the word of God grew and multiplied.

Barnabas and Saul Appointed

²⁵ And ^(CR)Barnabas and Saul returned ^[w]from Jerusalem when they had ^(CS)fulfilled their ministry, and they also ^(CT)took with them ^(CU)John whose surname was Mark.

Greeting to the Twelve Tribes

1 James, ^(A)a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.

Profiting from Trials

² My brethren, ^(B)count it all joy ^(C)when you fall into various trials, ^3 (D)knowing that the testing of your faith produces ^[a]patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be ^[b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ^5 (E)If any of you lacks wisdom, ^(F)let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and ^(G)it will be given to him. ^6 (H)But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is ^(I)a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The Perspective of Rich and Poor

⁹ Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but the rich in his humiliation, because ^(J)as a flower of the field he will pass away. ¹¹ For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

Loving God Under Trials

^12 (K)Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive ^(L)the crown of life ^(M)which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, ^(N)when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, ^(O)brings forth death.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. ^17 (P)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, ^(Q)with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. ^18 (R)Of His own will He brought us forth by the ^(S)word of truth, ^(T)that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Qualities Needed in Trials

^19 [c]So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, ^(U)slow to speak, ^(V)slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Doers—Not Hearers Only

²¹ Therefore ^(W)lay aside all filthiness and ^[d]overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, ^(X)which is able to save your souls.

²² But ^(Y)be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For ^(Z)if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But ^(AA)he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, ^(AB)this one will be blessed in what he does.

²⁶ If anyone ^[e]among you thinks he is religious, and ^(AC)does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. ^27 (AD)Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: ^(AE)to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, ^(AF)and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Beware of Personal Favoritism

2 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(AG)the Lord of glory, with ^(AH)partiality. ² For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in ^[f]fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in ^[g]filthy clothes, ³ and you ^[h]pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” ⁴ have you not ^[i]shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my beloved brethren: ^(AI)Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be ^(AJ)rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom ^(AK)which He promised to those who love Him? ⁶ But ^(AL)you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you ^(AM)and drag you into the courts? ⁷ Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are ^(AN)called?

⁸ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ^(AO)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; ⁹ but if you ^[j]show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as ^(AP)transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet ^(AQ)stumble in one point, ^(AR)he is guilty of all. ¹¹ For He who said, ^(AS)“Do not commit adultery,” also said, ^(AT)“Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹² So speak and so do as those who will be judged by ^(AU)the law of liberty. ¹³ For ^(AV)judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown ^(AW)no ^(AX)mercy. ^(AY)Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead^(AZ)

^14 (BA)What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ^15 (BB)If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and ^(BC)one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” ^(BD)Show me your faith without ^[k]your works, ^(BE)and I will show you my faith by ^[l]my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is ^[m]dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works ^(BF)when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see ^(BG)that faith was working together with his works, and by ^(BH)works faith was made ^[n]perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ^(BI)“Abraham believed God, and it was ^[o]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called ^(BJ)the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

²⁵ Likewise, ^(BK)was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The Untamable Tongue

3 My brethren, ^(BL)let not many of you become teachers, ^(BM)knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ² For ^(BN)we all stumble in many things. ^(BO)If anyone does not stumble in word, ^(BP)he is a ^[p]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ^3 [q]Indeed, ^(BQ)we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so ^(BR)the tongue is a little member and ^(BS)boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And ^(BT)the tongue is a fire, a world of ^[r]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it ^(BU)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of ^[s]nature; and it is set on fire by ^[t]hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, ^(BV)full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made ^(BW)in the ^[u]similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a ^(BX)fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? ^[v]Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

^13 (BY)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have ^(BZ)bitter envy and ^[w]self-seeking in your hearts, ^(CA)do not boast and lie against the truth. ^15 (CB)This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For ^(CC)where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But ^(CD)the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, ^(CE)without partiality ^(CF)and without hypocrisy. ^18 (CG)Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Pride Promotes Strife

4 Where do ^[x]wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure ^(CH)that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and ^[y]war. ^[z]Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ^3 (CI)You ask and do not receive, ^(CJ)because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ^4 [aa]Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that ^(CK)friendship with the world is enmity with God? ^(CL)Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ^(CM)“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

Humility Cures Worldliness

⁷ Therefore submit to God. ^(CO)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ^8 (CP)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. ^(CQ)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and ^(CR)purify your hearts, you double-minded. ^9 (CS)Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ^10 (CT)Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Do Not Judge a Brother

^11 (CU)Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother ^(CV)and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹² There is one ^[ab]Lawgiver, ^(CW)who is able to save and to destroy. ^(CX)Who^[ac] are you to judge ^[ad]another?

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow ^[ae]we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? ^(CY)It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, ^(CZ)“If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ But now you boast in your arrogance. ^(DA)All such boasting is evil.

¹⁷ Therefore, ^(DB)to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged

5 Come now, you ^(DC)rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! ² Your ^(DD)riches ^[af]are corrupted, and ^(DE)your garments are moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. ^(DF)You have heaped up treasure in the last days. ⁴ Indeed ^(DG)the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and ^(DH)the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of ^[ag]Sabaoth. ⁵ You have lived on the earth in pleasure and ^[ah]luxury; you have ^[ai]fattened your hearts ^[aj]as in a day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

Be Patient and Persevering

⁷ Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. ⁸ You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord ^[ak]is at hand.

⁹ Do not ^[al]grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be ^[am]condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! ^10 (DI)My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and ^(DJ)patience. ¹¹ Indeed ^(DK)we count them blessed who ^(DL)endure. You have heard of ^(DM)the perseverance of Job and seen ^(DN)the end intended by the Lord—that ^(DO)the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

¹² But above all, my brethren, ^(DP)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into ^[an]judgment.

Meeting Specific Needs^(DQ)

¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him ^(DR)pray. Is anyone cheerful? ^(DS)Let him sing psalms. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, ^(DT)anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. ^(DU)And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ^16 [ao]Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. ^(DV)The effective, ^[ap]fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man ^(DW)with a nature like ours, and ^(DX)he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. ¹⁸ And he prayed ^(DY)again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Bring Back the Erring One

¹⁹ Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone ^(DZ)turns him back, ²⁰ let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way ^(EA)will save ^[aq]a soul from death and ^(EB)cover a multitude of sins.