1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greeting.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials,
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.
7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 (included in verse 7)
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.
10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.
11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
12 Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has 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 with evil and he himself tempts no one;
13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
14 but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.
15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
16 Dont be deceived, my dear brothers.
17 Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
19 Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.
20 for mans anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror;
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24 for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.
25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
26 If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this mans religion is vain.
26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
27 Religion 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.