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

¶ 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 brothers, when you fall into various temptations,

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

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

knowing that the proving of your faith works patience,

4 L et endurance have its perfect work, that you 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 of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will 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, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by 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 that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

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

8 H e is 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 in humble circumstances glory in his high position;

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

10 a nd the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, 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 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.

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 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.

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 by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he 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 each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

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

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

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

16 D on’t be deceived, my beloved brothers.

Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 E very 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.

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 he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of 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, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

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

20 f or the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.

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

21 T herefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility 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 doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

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

23 F or 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;

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

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

25 B ut 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.

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 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.

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