James 1
1 This letter comes from James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is sent to the twelve tribes scattered abroad. Best wishes to you!
James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends greeting to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad.
2 My friends, choose to stay happy even when all kinds of troubles come your way,
My brothers, when you are beset by various temptations, count it all joy,
3 because you know that endurance comes from dealing with challenges to your trust in God.
because you know that the testing of your faith is working out endurance.
4 Let your endurance become as strong as possible, so that you will be completely mature, without any shortcomings.
But let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, not lacking in anything.
5 If any of you need wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to everyone without holding back.
If any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him ask it from the God who gives to all men freely and without upbraiding; and it will be given to him.
6 But when you ask, remember to trust in God—don't have any doubts. Someone who doubts is like the crashing waves of the sea, tossed about and driven by the wind.
But let him ask in faith, without wavering; for he who wavers is like a surge of the sea, wind-driven and tossed.
7 Nobody like that should think they'll get anything from the Lord—
Such a man need not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 their minds think every which way, and they're unstable in whatever they do.
double-minded as he is, unstable at every turn.
9 Believers who are born poor should take pride in the high position they've been given,
Let a brother in humble circumstances glory in his exaltation;
10 while the rich should “boast” in the humble position they now have, since they will fade away like flowers in the field.
but a rich brother, in his humiliation; because like the flower of the grass the rich man will pass away.
11 For the sun rises along with the blistering wind and scorches the grass. The flowers fall and their beauty is marred. Everything the rich achieve will fade in just the same way.
For as the sun comes up with a burning heat, it withers the grass, and its flowers fall, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes; so also shall the rich man fade away amid his pursuits.
12 Happy is anyone who patiently endures temptation, for when they've proved that they are trustworthy, they will receive the crown of life which God promises to those who love him.
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 Nobody should say when they're tempted, “I'm being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.
When he is being tempted, let no one say, "It is God who tempts me," for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man.
14 Temptations come from our own evil desires that lead us astray and entrap us.
But each man is tempted by his own lusts that allure and entice him.
15 Such desires lead to sin, and sin, when it's fully developed, causes death.
Then lust conceives and gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is mature, brings forth death.
16 My dear friends, don't be deceived.
Do not be deceived, my brothers!
17 All that's good, every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down from the Father who made heaven's lights. Unlike them he doesn't change—he doesn't vary or cause shadows.
Every good gift and every perfect boon is from above, and is ever coming down to us from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of eclipse.
18 He chose to give us new life through the word of truth, so that out of all his creation we would be very special to him.
Because he willed, he gave us birth through the word of truth, so that we should be a kind of first-fruits among his creatures.
19 Remember this, my dear friends: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak, and slow to get angry,
Mark this well, my dear brothers. Let every man be swift in hearing, slow in speaking, slow in growing angry;
20 because human anger doesn't reflect the good character of God.
for a man’s anger does not further the righteous purpose of God.
21 So get rid of all that's filthy and evil. Humbly accept the word that's been implanted within you—for this is what can save you.
So strip off all filthiness and superfluity of wickedness, and in meekness receive the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But do what the word says—don't just listen to it and delude yourselves.
And become doers of the Word, and not merely hearers, deceiving yourselves.
23 If you just listen to the word, and don't act on it, it's like staring at your own face in a mirror.
Because if any one is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 You see yourself, but then you leave, and immediately forget what you looked like.
for after he has looked carefully at himself, he goes away, and at once forgets what he is like.
25 But if you look to the perfect law of freedom and follow it, not as someone who just listens and then forgets, but as someone who acts on it—then you will be blessed in what you do.
But the man who looks closely into the perfect law - the law of liberty - and continues looking, this man will be blessed in his deed because he is not a hearer who forgets, but a doer who does.
26 If you think you're religious, but don't control what you say, you deceive yourself—your religion is pointless.
If a man thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own religion,
27 In the eyes of our God and Father, religion that's pure and genuine is to visit orphans and widows in their suffering, and to keep yourself from being contaminated by the world.
and undefiled before our God and Father, to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, and ever to keep himself unspotted from the world.
