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

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

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

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

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

knowing that the proving of your faith works patience,

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

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

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.

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 wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

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 any thing of the Lord.

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

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

The double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

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

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

10 B ut the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall 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 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 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 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 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 say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

¶ 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 man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

But each one is tempted, when they are drawn away of their 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 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 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 and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.

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.

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

19 W herefore, 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 the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

for the wrath of man does not work 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.

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 the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving 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 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 beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

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

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 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 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 to be religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, his religion is vain.

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.

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.