James 1:13-27

13No one is to say when he is tempted, “1I am being tempted 2by God”; for God cannot be tempted 3by 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 4when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and 5sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. 166Do not be 7deceived, 8my beloved brothers and sisters. 17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is 9from above, coming down from 10the Father of lights, 11with whom there is no variation or 12shifting shadow. 18In the exercise of 13His will He 14gave us birth by 15the word of truth, so that we would be 16a kind of 17first fruits 18among His creatures.

191920You know this, 21my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, 22slow to speak, and 23slow to anger; 20for a man’s 24anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21Therefore, 25ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all 26that remains of wickedness, in 27humility receive 28the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 2229But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his 30natural face 31in a mirror; 24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, 32he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, 33the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but 34an active doer, this person will be 35blessed in 36what he does.

26If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not 3738bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion 39in the sight of our God and Father is this: to 40visit 41orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained 42by 43the world.