James 1:16-27

161Do not be 2deceived, 3my beloved brothers and sisters. 17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is 4from above, coming down from 5the Father of lights, 6with whom there is no variation or 7shifting shadow. 18In the exercise of 8His will He 9gave us birth by 10the word of truth, so that we would be 11a kind of 12first fruits 13among His creatures.

191415You know this, 16my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, 17slow to speak, and 18slow to anger; 20for a man’s 19anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21Therefore, 20ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all 21that remains of wickedness, in 22humility receive 23the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 2224But 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 25natural face 26in a mirror; 24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, 27he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, 28the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but 29an active doer, this person will be 30blessed in 31what he does.

26If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not 3233bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion 34in the sight of our God and Father is this: to 35visit 36orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained 37by 38the world.