James 1

1Jamesa servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

2Consider it pure joymy brothers and sisters,#1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believersboth men and womenas part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1514; 3:1012; 4:11; 5:79101219. whenever you face trials of many kinds3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and completenot lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdomyou should ask Godwho gives generously to all without finding faultand it will be given to you. 6But when you askyou must believe and not doubtbecause the one who doubts is like a wave of the seablown and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same waythe rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial becausehaving stood the testthat person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13When temptedno one should say“God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evilnor does he tempt anyone; 14but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15Thenafter desire has conceivedit gives birth to sin; and sinwhen it is full-growngives birth to death.

16Don’t be deceivedmy dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good and perfect gift is from abovecoming down from the Father of the heavenly lightswho does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truththat we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Listening and Doing

19My dear brothers and sisterstake note of this: Everyone should be quick to listenslow to speak and slow to become angry20because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21Thereforeget rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in youwhich can save you.

22Do not merely listen to the wordand so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24andafter looking at himselfgoes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedomand continues in it—not forgetting what they have heardbut doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselvesand their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

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James 1: NIV

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