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 person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8being a 1617double-minded man, 18unstable in all his ways.

919Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10but the rich person is to glory in his 20humiliation, because 21like 22flowering grass he will pass away. 11For the sun rises with 23its scorching heat and 24withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out.

1225Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has 26been approved, he will receive 27the crown of life which the Lord 28has promised to those who 29love Him. 13No one is to say when he is tempted, “30I am being tempted 31by God”; for God cannot be tempted 32by 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 33when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and 34sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. 1635Do not be 36deceived, 37my beloved brothers and sisters. 17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is 38from above, coming down from 39the Father of lights, 40with whom there is no variation or 41shifting shadow. 18In the exercise of 42His will He 43gave us birth by 44the word of truth, so that we would be 45a kind of 46first fruits 47among His creatures.

194849You know this, 50my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, 51slow to speak, and 52slow to anger; 20for a man’s 53anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21Therefore, 54ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all 55that remains of wickedness, in 56humility receive 57the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 2258But 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 59natural face 60in a mirror; 24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, 61he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, 62the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but 63an active doer, this person will be 64blessed in 65what he does.

26If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not 6667bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion 68in the sight of our God and Father is this: to 69visit 70orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained 71by 72the world.