Jam 1 | NASB1995 | STEP | James , a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ , To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings .

James 1

Testing Your Faith

1 ^{▼▼ Or Jacob
,} ^bJames, a ^cbond-servant of God and ^dof the Lord Jesus Christ,

To ^ethe twelve tribes who are ^{▼▼ Lit in the Dispersion
,} ^gdispersed abroad: ^hGreetings.

2 ⁱConsider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter ^jvarious ^{▼▼ Or temptations}trials, 3 knowing that ^lthe testing of your ^mfaith produces ^{▼▼ Or steadfastness
,} ^oendurance. 4 And let ^{▼▼ V 3, note 1
,} ^qendurance have its perfect ^{▼▼ Lit work}result, so that you may be ^{▼▼ Or mature
,} ^tperfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you ^ulacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and ^{▼▼ Lit does not reproach}without reproach, and ^wit will be given to him. 6 But he must ^xask in faith ^ywithout any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, ^zdriven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a ^{▼▼ Or doubting, hesitating
,} ^abdouble-minded man, ^acunstable in all his ways.

9 ^adBut the ^{▼▼ I.e. church member}brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because ^aflike ^{▼▼ Lit the flower of the grass}flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with ^{▼▼ Lit the
,} ^aia scorching wind and ^ajwithers 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.

12 ^akBlessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has ^{▼▼ Or passed the test}been approved, he will receive ^amthe crown of life which the Lord ^anhas promised to those who ^aolove Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, ^ap“I am being tempted ^{▼▼ Lit from}by God”; for God cannot be tempted ^{▼▼ Lit of evil things}by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then ^aswhen lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when ^atsin ^{▼▼ Lit is brought to completion}is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 ^avDo not be ^{▼▼ Or misled}deceived, ^axmy beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is ^ayfrom above, coming down from ^azthe Father of lights, ^bawith whom there is no variation or ^{▼▼ Lit shadow of turning}shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of ^bcHis will He ^bdbrought us forth by ^bethe word of truth, so that we would be ^{▼▼ Or a certain first fruits}a kind of ^bgfirst fruits ^{▼▼ Lit of}among His creatures.

19 ^{▼▼ Or Know this} This ^bjyou know, ^bkmy beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, ^blslow to speak and ^bmslow to anger; 20 for ^bnthe anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, ^boputting aside all filthiness and all ^{▼▼ Lit abundance of malice}that remains of wickedness, in ^{▼▼ Or gentleness}humility receive ^brthe word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 ^bsBut prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his ^{▼▼ Lit the face of his birth; or nature}natural face ^buin a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, ^{▼▼ Lit and he}he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, ^bwthe law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but ^{▼▼ Lit a doer of a work}an effectual doer, this man will be ^byblessed in ^{▼▼ Lit his doing}what he does.

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not ^{▼▼ Or control
,} ^cbbridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion ^ccin the sight of our God and Father is this: to ^cdvisit ^ceorphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained ^{▼▼ Lit from}by ^cgthe world.