Book of Common Prayer

He exhorts to rejoice in trouble, to be fervent in prayer with steadfast belief, to look for all good things from above, to forsake all vice, and thankfully to receive the word of God, not only hearing it and speaking of it, but to do thereafter in deed. True religion or devotion: what it is.

1 James, the servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greeting to the twelve tribes which are scattered here and there. 

² My brethren, count it exceeding joy when you fall into various trials, ³ seeing as you know that the trying of your faith brings patience. ⁴ And let patience have her perfect work, so that you may be perfect and sound, lacking nothing.

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all impartially, and casts no man in the teeth, and it shall be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, and waver not. For he who doubts is like the waves of the sea, tossed with the wind and carried about. ⁷ Neither let that person think that he will receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ A wavering-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

⁹ Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted, ¹⁰ and the rich in that he is made low. For like the flower of the grass, he will vanish away. ¹¹ The sun rises with heat, and the grass withers, and its flower falls away, and the beauty of the appearance of it perishes; even so shall the rich man perish with his abundance.

¹² Happy is the man who endures in temptation, for when he is proved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.

¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, that he is tempted by God. For God tempts not to evil, nor does he tempt anyone, ¹⁴ but every person is tempted, drawn away, and enticed by his own fleshly nature and evil desire. ¹⁵ Then when desire has conceived, she brings forth sin, and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.

¹⁶ Do not be mistaken, my dear brethren. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of light, with whom is no variableness nor turning to darkness. ¹⁸ Of his own will he begat us with the word of life, that we should be the first fruits of his creatures.

²³ Then Jesus said to his disciples, Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ And moreover I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

²⁵ When his disciples heard that, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? ²⁶ Jesus regarded them and said to them, With men it is not possible, but with God all things are possible.

²⁷ Then Peter answered and said to him, Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What will we have?

²⁸ Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, when the Son of man sits in the seat of his majesty, you who have followed me in the new birth shall sit also upon twelve seats and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And whosoever gives up houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, the same shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. ³⁰ Many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.