James

The general epistle of James, chapter 1, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 1 New English Translation

Salutation

   1 From James, a slave of God and the LORD Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings!

Joy in Trials

   2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. 5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the LORD, 8 since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.
   9 Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high position. 10 But the rich person's pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow. 11 For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away. 12 Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God, " for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. 15 Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death. 16 Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change. 18 By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Living Out the Message

   19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. 20 For human anger does not accomplish God's righteousness. 21 So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. 23 For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. 25 But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out - he will be blessed in what he does. 26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

King James Version

   1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
   2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
   3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
   4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
   5 If 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.
   6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
   7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
   8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
   9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
   10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
   11 For 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.
   12 Blessed 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.
   13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
   14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
   15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
   16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
   17 Every 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.
   18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
   19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
   20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
   21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
   22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
   23 For 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:
   24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
   25 But 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.
   26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
   27 Pure 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.