1 J ames, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

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

2 C onsider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

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

3 k nowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

4 A nd let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

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

5 B ut if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

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 he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

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 that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,

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

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

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

9 B ut the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,

10 a nd the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.

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

11 F or the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

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 a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who 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 L et no one say when he is tempted, “ I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not 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 he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

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

15 T hen when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it 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 be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

17 E very good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

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 I n the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among 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 T his you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

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

20 f or the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

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

21 T herefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

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 prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

23 F or if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at 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 once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

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

25 B ut one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

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 thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

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 P ure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the 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.