1 ¶ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are scattered among the nations, greetings.

2 ¶ My brethren, rejoice when you encounter various trials;

3 Knowing that the testing of your faith produces commitment.

4 But let commitment complete its work, so that you may be perfect and mature, lacking nothing.

5 If anyone of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously, and without reproach; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, without doubting. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 Such a man should not expect to receive any thing from 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 like a flower in the grass he will pass away.

11 For the sun rises with scorching heat, and causes the plant to wither, and its bloom falls off, and its beauty is destroyed: in the same way the rich man will wither and die in the midst of his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial: for having endured the trial, he will receive the crown of eternal life, that the Lord has promised to all who love him.

13 ¶ Do not let anyone say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt anyone:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and when sin is finished, brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, who does not change, or shift as the shadows.

18 He chose to give us life through the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creation.

19 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger:

20 For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

21 Therefore put aside all filthiness and every hint of naughtiness, and in meekness receive the implanted word, that is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For anyone who is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, is like a man who sees his face in a mirror:

24 And having seen himself, goes his way, and immediately forgets what sort of man he was.

25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, not forgetting what he heard, but doing what it requires, will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, his religion is vain.

27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before our God and Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unpolluted by the world.