James 1:3-27

3knowing that 1the testing of your 2faith produces 34endurance. 4And let 56endurance have its perfect 7result, so that you may be 89perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5But if any of you 10lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and 11without reproach, and 12it will be given to him. 6But he must 13ask in faith 14without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, 15driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8being a 1617double-minded man, 18unstable in all his ways.

919But the 20brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because 21like 22flowering grass he will pass away. 11For the sun rises with 2324a scorching wind and 25withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

1226Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has 27been approved, he will receive 28the crown of life which the Lord 29has promised to those who 30love Him. 13Let no one say when he is tempted, “31I am being tempted 32by God”; for God cannot be tempted 33by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15Then 34when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when 35sin 36is accomplished, it brings forth death. 1637Do not be 38deceived, 39my beloved brethren. 17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is 40from above, coming down from 41the Father of lights, 42with whom there is no variation or 43shifting shadow. 18In the exercise of 44His will He 45brought us forth by 46the word of truth, so that we would be 47a kind of 48first fruits 49among His creatures.

1950This 51you know, 52my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, 53slow to speak and 54slow to anger; 20for 55the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21Therefore, 56putting aside all filthiness and all 57that remains of wickedness, in 58humility receive 59the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 2260But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his 61natural face 62in a mirror; 24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, 63he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25But one who looks intently at the perfect law, 64the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but 65an effectual doer, this man will be 66blessed in 67what he does.

26If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not 6869bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion 70in the sight of our God and Father is this: to 71visit 72orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained 73by 74the world.