Keraia
General Epistles

James 1

A Greeting from James

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion:

Greetings.

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Diaspora: Greetings.

Rejoicing in Trials

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,

2Esteem it all joy, my brothers, when you might fall into various trials,

3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

3knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

4Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

4And let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, the One giving generously to all and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

6But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

6But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for the one doubting is like a wave of the sea, being blown and being tossed by the wind.

7That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

7For let that man not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.

8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

8He is a double-souled man, unstable in all his ways.

9The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.

9But let the brother of humbleness boast in his exaltation,

10But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

10and the one who is rich in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of grass.

11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

11For the sun rose with its burning heat and withered the grass, and its flower fell, and the beauty of its appearance perished. Thus also the rich man will fade away in his pursuits.

12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

12Blessed is the man who endures trial, because, having been approved, he will receive the crown of life that He promised to those loving Him.

Good and Perfect Gifts

13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.

13Let no one being tempted say, “I am being tempted from God.” For God is unable to be tempted by evils, and He Himself tempts no one.

14But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.

14But each one is tempted, being dragged away and being enticed by his own desire.

15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

15Then desire, having conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin, having become fully grown, brings forth death.

16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

16Do not be misled, my beloved brothers.

17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

17Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

18Having willed it, He brought us forth by the word of truth, for us to be a certain firstfruits of His creatures.

Hearing and Doing

19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

19Know this, my beloved brothers: But let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

20for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

20for man’s anger does not produce the righteousness of God.

21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

21Therefore, having put off all filthiness and abundance of wickedness, accept in meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding yourselves,

23For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,

23because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror,

24and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

24for he observed himself and has gone away, and immediately he forgot what kind he was.

25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.

25But the one having looked intently into the perfect law, that of freedom, and having continued in it, not having been a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work—this one will be blessed in his doing.

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.

26If anyone thinks to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, the religion of this one is futile.

27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

27Pure and undefiled religion before the God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their tribulation, to keep oneself unstained from the world.