James 1:19-5:20

New International Version

Listening and Doing

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters,^(A) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak^(B) and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger^(C) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of^(D) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,^(E) which can save you.

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.^{(F) 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,^(G) and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.^(H)

²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues^(I) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after^(J) orphans and widows^(K) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.^(L)

Favoritism Forbidden

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious^(M) Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.^{(N) 2} Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges^(O) with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^(P) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^(Q) to be rich in faith^(R) and to inherit the kingdom^(S) he promised those who love him?^{(T) 6} But you have dishonored the poor.^(U) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?^{(V) 7} Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”^[a](W) you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism,^(X) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.^{(Y) 10} For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles^(Z) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.^{(AA) 11} For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”^[b](AB) also said, “You shall not murder.”^[c](AC) If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged^(AD) by the law that gives freedom,^{(AE) 13} because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.^(AF) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Deeds

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?^(AG) Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.^{(AH) 16} If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?^{(AI) 17} In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.^(AJ)

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,^(AK) and I will show you my faith^(AL) by my deeds.^{(AM) 19} You believe that there is one God.^(AN) Good! Even the demons believe that^(AO)—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[d]?^{(AP) 21} Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?^{(AQ) 22} You see that his faith and his actions were working together,^(AR) and his faith was made complete by what he did.^{(AS) 23} And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[e](AT) and he was called God’s friend.^{(AU) 24} You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?^{(AV) 26} As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.^(AW)

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers,^(AX) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged^(AY) more strictly.^{(AZ) 2} We all stumble^(BA) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say^(BB) is perfect,^(BC) able to keep their whole body in check.^(BD)

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.^{(BE) 4} Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.^(BF) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire,^(BG) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^(BH) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^(BI)

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^(BJ)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.^{(BK) 10} Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?^(BL) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it^(BM) by their good life, by deeds^(BN) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition^(BO) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.^{(BP) 15} Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven^(BQ) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.^{(BR) 16} For where you have envy and selfish ambition,^(BS) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven^(BT) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,^(BU) considerate, submissive, full of mercy^(BV) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.^{(BW) 18} Peacemakers^(BX) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.^(BY)

Submit Yourselves to God

4 What causes fights and quarrels^(BZ) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle^(CA) within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill.^(CB) You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive,^(CC) because you ask with wrong motives,^(CD) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴ You adulterous^(CE) people,^[f] don’t you know that friendship with the world^(CF) means enmity against God?^(CG) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.^{(CH) 5} Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us^[g]?^{(CI) 6} But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,^(CK) and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you.^(CL) Wash your hands,^(CM) you sinners, and purify your hearts,^(CN) you double-minded.^{(CO) 9} Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.^{(CP) 10} Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.^(CQ)

¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.^(CR) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[i] or judges them^(CS) speaks against the law^(CT) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,^(CU) but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,^(CV) the one who is able to save and destroy.^(CW) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?^(CX)

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen,^(CY) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^{(CZ) 14} Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.^{(DA) 15} Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,^(DB) we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.^{(DC) 17} If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.^(DD)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,^(DE) you rich people,^(DF) weep and wail^(DG) because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.^{(DH) 3} Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.^{(DI) 4} Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers^(DJ) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries^(DK) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.^{(DL) 5} You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves^(DM) in the day of slaughter.^{[j](DN) 6} You have condemned and murdered^(DO) the innocent one,^(DP) who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.^(DQ) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting^(DR) for the autumn and spring rains.^{(DS) 8} You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming^(DT) is near.^{(DU) 9} Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,^(DV) or you will be judged. The Judge^(DW) is standing at the door!^(DX)

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets^(DY) who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed^(DZ) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance^(EA) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.^(EB) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.^(EC)

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.^(ED)

The Prayer of Faith

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.^(EE) Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.^{(EF) 14} Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders^(EG) of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil^(EH) in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith^(EI) will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins^(EJ) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.^(EK) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.^(EL)

¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are.^(EM) He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.^{(EN) 18} Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.^(EO)

¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth^(EP) and someone should bring that person back,^{(EQ) 20} remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save^(ER) them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.^(ES)