Jam 1 | NASB2020 | STEP | James , a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ , To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings .

James 1

The Testing of 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 brothers and sisters, when you encounter ^jvarious ^{▼▼Or temptations}trials, 3 knowing that ^lthe testing of your ^mfaith produces ^{▼▼Or steadfastness
,} ^oendurance. 4 And let ^{▼▼Or steadfastness
,} ^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 person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a ^{▼▼I.e., a chronic doubter
,} ^abdouble-minded man, ^acunstable in all his ways.

9 ^adNow the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 but the rich person is to glory in his ^{▼▼Or downfall}humiliation, because ^aflike ^{▼▼Lit the flower of the grass}flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with ^ahits scorching heat and ^aiwithers 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.

12 ^ajBlessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has ^{▼▼Or passed the test}been approved, he will receive ^althe crown of life which the Lord ^amhas promised to those who ^anlove Him. 13 No one is to say when he is tempted, “ ^aoI 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 ^arwhen lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and ^assin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. 16 ^atDo not be ^{▼▼Or misled}deceived, ^avmy beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is ^awfrom above, coming down from ^axthe Father of lights, ^aywith whom there is no variation or ^{▼▼Lit shadow of turning}shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of ^baHis will He ^bbgave us birth by ^bcthe word of truth, so that we would be ^{▼▼Or a certain first fruits}a kind of ^befirst fruits ^{▼▼Lit of}among His creatures.

19 ^{▼▼Or Know this
,} ^bhYou know this, ^bimy beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, ^bjslow to speak, and ^bkslow to anger; 20 for a man’s ^blanger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, ^bmridding yourselves of all filthiness and all ^{▼▼Lit abundance of malice}that remains of wickedness, in ^{▼▼Or gentleness}humility receive ^bpthe word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 ^bqBut prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive 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 ^bsin 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 has looked intently at the perfect law, ^buthe law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but ^{▼▼Lit a doer of a work}an active doer, this person will be ^bwblessed in ^{▼▼Lit his doing}what he does.

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