James 1

1 ¹ James, a servant of our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. ^a a v1 The twelve tribes refers to Jewish believers scattered in communities across the non-Jewish world.

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, ask our Father, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from our Father. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all their ways.

⁹ Let the believer in humble circumstances take pride in their high position, ¹⁰ but let the rich take pride in their humiliation — since they will pass away like a wildflower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that our Father has promised to those who love him.

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, "Our Father is tempting me." For our Father cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. ^b b v13 James guards our Father's character against a lie as old as the garden — that he is the tempter. Our Father gives every good gift; he never sets a trap for his children. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. ¹⁶ Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who never changes or casts a shifting shadow. ^c c v17 James gives our Father his own distinctive title — the Father of lights, the source of every good gift, who never shifts like the sun and stars he made. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. ^d d v18 Firstfruits were the first and finest portion of the harvest offered to God; here believers are the first and best of all he created.

Hear It, Then Live It

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness of our Father. ²¹ So get rid of all moral filth and rampant evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror, ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do.

²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive their own hearts, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that is pure and spotless before our Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.