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James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations,

knowing this: that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, never wavering; for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways.

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,

10 but the rich in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat than it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth. So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to those who love Him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man.

14 But every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

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, He begot us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

19 Therefore, 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 Therefore lay apart all filthiness and the superfluity of wickedness, 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 mirror;

24 for he beholdeth himself, and then 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, 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.

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment,

and ye have respect for him that weareth the grand clothing and say unto him, “Sit thou here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “Stand thou there,” or, “Sit here under my footstool,”

are ye not then partial in yourselves and have become judges with evil thoughts?

Hearken, my beloved brethren: Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which He hath promised to those who love Him?

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you and drag you before the judgment seats?

Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which ye are called?

If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” ye do well.

But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend on one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For He that said, “Do not commit adultery,” said also, “Do not kill.” Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as those who shall be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, who hath shown no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and hath not works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food,

16 and one of you say unto them, “Depart in peace; be ye warmed and filled,” without giving them those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, “Thou hast faith, and I have works.” Show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well. The devils also believe — and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God.

24 Ye see then how by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

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

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

My brethren, let not many be masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body.

Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great and are driven by fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the helmsman pleases.

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a wood a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. So is the tongue among our members that it defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire from hell.

For every kind of beast and bird and serpent and thing in the sea is tamed, and hath been tamed, by mankind.

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Therewith we bless God, even the Father, and therewith we curse men, who are made in the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth from the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries, or a vine figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show his works out of good conduct and with the meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have bitter envy and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 Such wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envy and strife are, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of those who make peace.

From whence come wars and fightings among you? Do they not come even from your lusts that war in your members?

Ye lust, and have not; ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain. Ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, “The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy”?

But He giveth more grace; therefore He saith, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.

Be afflicted and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.

11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law and judgeth the law. But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy. Who art thou that judgest another?

13 Come now, ye that say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and continue there a year, and buy and sell and get gain”;

14 whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

15 Instead ye ought to say, “If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that.”

16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings. All such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knoweth how to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Come now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

Your riches are corrupted and your garments motheaten.

Your gold and silver are cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped your fields, which you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries of those who have reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth and been wanton. Ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

Ye have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not resist you.

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Be ye also patient; make firm your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned. Behold, the Judge standeth before the door!

10 My brethren, take the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering affliction and of patience.

11 Behold, we count them happy who endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord, how the Lord is full of pity and of tender mercy.

12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by earth, nor by any other oath; but let your “Yea” be yea, and your “Nay” be nay, lest ye fall into condemnation.

13 Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.

14 Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up. And if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

17 Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are. And he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth for the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.

19 Brethren, if any of you err from the truth and one convert him,

20 let him know that he who converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

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

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

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)

Favoritism Forbidden

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious(AT) Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.(AU) Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges(AV) with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:(AW) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world(AX) to be rich in faith(AY) and to inherit the kingdom(AZ) he promised those who love him?(BA) But you have dishonored the poor.(BB) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?(BC) Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[b](BD) you are doing right. But if you show favoritism,(BE) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.(BF) 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles(BG) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.(BH) 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[c](BI) also said, “You shall not murder.”[d](BJ) If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged(BK) by the law that gives freedom,(BL) 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.(BM) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Deeds

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?(BN) Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.(BO) 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?(BP) 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.(BQ)

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,(BR) and I will show you my faith(BS) by my deeds.(BT) 19 You believe that there is one God.(BU) Good! Even the demons believe that(BV)—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[e]?(BW) 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?(BX) 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together,(BY) and his faith was made complete by what he did.(BZ) 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[f](CA) and he was called God’s friend.(CB) 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?(CC) 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.(CD)

Taming the Tongue

Not many of you should become teachers,(CE) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged(CF) more strictly.(CG) We all stumble(CH) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(CI) is perfect,(CJ) able to keep their whole body in check.(CK)

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(CL) Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(CM) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire,(CN) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(CO) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(CP)

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(CQ)

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.(CR) 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?(CS) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it(CT) by their good life, by deeds(CU) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(CV) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(CW) 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven(CX) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(CY) 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,(CZ) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(DA) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(DB) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(DC) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(DD) 18 Peacemakers(DE) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.(DF)

Submit Yourselves to God

What causes fights and quarrels(DG) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle(DH) within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill.(DI) You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive,(DJ) because you ask with wrong motives,(DK) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

You adulterous(DL) people,[g] don’t you know that friendship with the world(DM) means enmity against God?(DN) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.(DO) Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[h]?(DP) But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[i](DQ)

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,(DR) and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.(DS) Wash your hands,(DT) you sinners, and purify your hearts,(DU) you double-minded.(DV) Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.(DW) 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.(DX)

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.(DY) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[j] or judges them(DZ) speaks against the law(EA) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,(EB) but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,(EC) the one who is able to save and destroy.(ED) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?(EE)

Boasting About Tomorrow

13 Now listen,(EF) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”(EG) 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.(EH) 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,(EI) we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.(EJ) 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.(EK)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

Now listen,(EL) you rich people,(EM) weep and wail(EN) because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.(EO) Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.(EP) Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers(EQ) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries(ER) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.(ES) You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves(ET) in the day of slaughter.[k](EU) You have condemned and murdered(EV) the innocent one,(EW) who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.(EX) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting(EY) for the autumn and spring rains.(EZ) You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming(FA) is near.(FB) Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,(FC) or you will be judged. The Judge(FD) is standing at the door!(FE)

10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets(FF) who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed(FG) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance(FH) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.(FI) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.(FJ)

12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.(FK)

The Prayer of Faith

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.(FL) Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.(FM) 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders(FN) of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil(FO) in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith(FP) will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins(FQ) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.(FR) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.(FS)

17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are.(FT) He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.(FU) 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.(FV)

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth(FW) and someone should bring that person back,(FX) 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save(FY) them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.(FZ)

Footnotes

  1. James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.
  2. James 2:8 Lev. 19:18
  3. James 2:11 Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18
  4. James 2:11 Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17
  5. James 2:20 Some early manuscripts dead
  6. James 2:23 Gen. 15:6
  7. James 4:4 An allusion to covenant unfaithfulness; see Hosea 3:1.
  8. James 4:5 Or that the spirit he caused to dwell in us envies intensely; or that the Spirit he caused to dwell in us longs jealously
  9. James 4:6 Prov. 3:34
  10. James 4:11 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.
  11. James 5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting