James 1Book 59 of 66 · 27 verses · MBT primary, NKJV fallback where MBT pending

  1. James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ — to the twelve tribes scattered abroad: Greetings.
  2. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter trials of various kinds —
  3. knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
  4. And let steadfastness have its full effect — so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
  5. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God — who gives generously to all without reproach — and it will be given to him.
  6. But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing — for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
  7. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord —
  8. he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
  9. But let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation,
  10. and the rich man, in his humiliation — because like a flower of the grass, he will pass away.
  11. For the sun rises with its scorching heat, and withers the grass — and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed. So also the rich man, in the midst of his pursuits, will fade away.
  12. Blessed is the man who endures trial — for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
  13. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being 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 dragged away and enticed by his own lust.
  15. Then, when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin — and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death.
  16. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
  17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above — coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, nor shifting shadow.
  18. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth — so that we would be a kind of firstfruits among His creatures.
  19. Know this, my beloved brothers: let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
  20. For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
  21. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all the abundance of wickedness, in humility receive 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 who looks at his natural face in a mirror.
  24. For he looks at himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
  25. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law — the law of liberty — and continues in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work — this man will be blessed in what he does.
  26. If anyone considers himself religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart — this man's religion is worthless.
  27. Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress — and to keep oneself unstained by the world.