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

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. Profiting from Trials

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

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 k nowing that the proving of your faith works patience,

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

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

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 A nd 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.

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 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.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

7 F or let not such a man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 T he double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. The Perspective of Rich and Poor

9 L et the brother of low degree rejoice in his high status;

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,

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

but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.

11 F or 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.

For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. Loving God Under Trials

12 B lessed 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.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, 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, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt anyone:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

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

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

15 T hen when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

16 D o not err, my beloved brethren.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

17 E very 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.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

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

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. Qualities Needed in Trials

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

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

20 f or the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.

for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Doers—Not Hearers Only

21 S o 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.

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness 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 hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

23 F or 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:

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

24 F or he considered himself and went his way and in one hour forgot what he was like.

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

25 B ut 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.

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

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

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

27 T he 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.

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.