1 J ames, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.

2 M y brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,

3 k nowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 B ut let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 I f any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.

6 B ut let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.

7 F or let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 L et the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

But let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;

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

and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.

11 F or the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but 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.

For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.

12 B lessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

13 L et no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

14 b ut every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15 T hen when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, produces death.

16 D o not err, my beloved brethren.

Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers.

17 E very 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.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

18 O f his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 W herefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

20 f or the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.

21 W herefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 B ut be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

23 F or if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;

24 f or he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 B ut 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.

But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

26 I f any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

27 P ure religion and 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.

Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.