1 J ames, bondman of God and of Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which in the dispersion, greeting.

¶ James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus, the Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2 C ount it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various temptations,

¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse trials,

3 k nowing that the proving of your faith works endurance.

knowing that the proving of your faith works patience,

4 B ut let endurance have perfect work, that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

and the patience finishes the work, that ye may be perfect and entire, not lacking in anything.

5 B ut if any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all freely and reproaches not, and it shall be given to him:

And if any of you lacks wisdom, let them ask of God (who gives abundantly to all, and without reproach), and it shall be given them.

6 b ut let him ask in faith, nothing doubting. For he that doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed about;

But ask in faith, not doubting anything. For he that doubts is like the wave of the sea which is driven of the wind and is tossed from one side to another.

7 f or let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord;

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

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

The double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 B ut let the brother of low degree glory in his elevation,

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in his high status;

10 a nd the rich in his humiliation, because as grass's flower he will pass away.

and he who is rich, in his low status, because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

11 F or the sun has risen with its burning heat, and has withered the grass, and its flower has fallen, and the comeliness of its look has perished: thus the rich also shall wither in his goings.

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and its flower falls, and the beautiful appearance of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 B lessed man who endures temptation; for, having been proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which He has promised to them that love him.

Blessed is the man that patiently endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those that love him.

13 L et no man, being tempted, say, I am tempted of God. For God cannot be tempted by evil things, and himself tempts no one.

¶ Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt anyone:

14 B ut every one is tempted, drawn away, and enticed by his own lust;

But each one is tempted, when they are drawn away of their own lust and enticed.

15 t hen lust, having conceived, gives birth to sin; but sin fully completed brings forth death.

Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.

16 D o not err, my beloved brethren.

Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 E very good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of turning.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.

18 A ccording to his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a certain first-fruits of his creatures.

He, of his own will, has begotten us with the word of truth, that we should be the firstfruits of his creatures.

19 S o that, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

20 f or man's wrath does not work God's righteousness.

for the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.

21 W herefore, laying aside all filthiness and abounding of wickedness, accept with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

So then, leave all uncleanness and remains of malice and receive with meekness the word ingested within you, which is able to cause your souls to be saved.

22 B ut be ye doers of word and not hearers only, beguiling yourselves.

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

23 F or if any man be a hearer of word and not a doer, he is like to a man considering his natural face in a mirror:

For if anyone hears the word and does not put it into practice, this same is like unto the man beholding his natural face in a mirror:

24 f or he has considered himself and is gone away, and straightway he has forgotten what he was like.

For he considered himself and went his way and in one hour forgot what he was like.

25 B ut he that fixes his view on perfect law, that of liberty, and abides in, being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of work, he shall be blessed in his doing.

But whosoever has looked attentively into the perfect law of liberty and has persevered in it, not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, the same shall be blessed in their deed.

26 I f any one think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, this man's religion is vain.

If anyone among you thinks to be religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, his religion is vain.

27 P ure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

The pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation and to keep thyself unspotted from this world.