James 1

RKJNT(i) 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greetings. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you encounter various trials; 3 Knowing that the trying of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and without reproach; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, without wavering. For he who wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 Let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord, 8 For a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of humble circumstances rejoice that he is exalted: 10 And the rich, that he is made humble: because like the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. In the same way shall the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who endures trial: for when he has stood the test, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is fully-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 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 shifting shadow. 18 By his own will he brought us forth with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. 19 Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger: 20 For the anger of man does not promote the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and the wickedness that is so abundant, and receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: 24 For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was. 25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and perseveres in it, not being a forgetful hearer, but an active doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. 26 If any man among you thinks he is religious, but does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his own heart and his religion is in vain. 27 This is pure and undefiled religion before God the Father: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted by the world.