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James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
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Trials and Temptations
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
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If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
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When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
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but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
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He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
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because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
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Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
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Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
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Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
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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.
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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,”
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Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
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Faith and Deeds
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
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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?
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You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
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Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
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You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
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And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
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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?
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Taming the Tongue
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
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We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
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When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
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All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,
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With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.
