James 1-5

New International Version

1 James,^(A) a servant of God^(B) and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes^(C) scattered^(D) among the nations:

Greetings.^(E)

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,^{(F) 3} because you know that the testing of your faith^(G) produces perseverance.^{(H) 4} Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature^(I) and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,^(J) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.^{(K) 6} But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,^(L) 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 the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded^(M) and unstable^(N) in all they do.

⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.^{(O) 10} But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.^{(P) 11} For the sun rises with scorching heat^(Q) and withers^(R) the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.^(S) 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^(T) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life^(U) that the Lord has promised to those who love him.^(V)

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own^(W) evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;^(X) and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.^(Y)

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived,^(Z) my dear brothers and sisters.^{(AA) 17} Every good and perfect gift is from above,^(AB) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,^(AC) who does not change^(AD) like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth^(AE) through the word of truth,^(AF) that we might be a kind of firstfruits^(AG) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

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

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

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

Favoritism Forbidden

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious^(AT) Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.^{(AU) 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^(AV) with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^(AW) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^(AX) to be rich in faith^(AY) and to inherit the kingdom^(AZ) he promised those who love him?^{(BA) 6} But you have dishonored the poor.^(BB) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?^{(BC) 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,”^[b](BD) you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism,^(BE) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.^{(BF) 10} For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles^(BG) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.^{(BH) 11} For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”^[c](BI) also said, “You shall not murder.”^[d](BJ) 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^(BK) by the law that gives freedom,^{(BL) 13} because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.^(BM) 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?^(BN) Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.^{(BO) 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?^{(BP) 17} In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.^(BQ)

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

Show me your faith without deeds,^(BR) and I will show you my faith^(BS) by my deeds.^{(BT) 19} You believe that there is one God.^(BU) Good! Even the demons believe that^(BV)—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[e]?^{(BW) 21} Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?^{(BX) 22} You see that his faith and his actions were working together,^(BY) and his faith was made complete by what he did.^{(BZ) 23} And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[f](CA) and he was called God’s friend.^{(CB) 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?^{(CC) 26} As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.^(CD)

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers,^(CE) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged^(CF) more strictly.^{(CG) 2} We all stumble^(CH) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say^(CI) is perfect,^(CJ) able to keep their whole body in check.^(CK)

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.^{(CL) 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.^(CM) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire,^(CN) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^(CO) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^(CP)

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.^(CQ)

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.^{(CR) 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?^(CS) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

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

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven^(DA) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,^(DB) considerate, submissive, full of mercy^(DC) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.^{(DD) 18} Peacemakers^(DE) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.^(DF)

Submit Yourselves to God

4 What causes fights and quarrels^(DG) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle^(DH) within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill.^(DI) 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,^(DJ) because you ask with wrong motives,^(DK) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

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

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,^(DR) and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you.^(DS) Wash your hands,^(DT) you sinners, and purify your hearts,^(DU) you double-minded.^{(DV) 9} Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.^{(DW) 10} Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.^(DX)

¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.^(DY) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[j] or judges them^(DZ) speaks against the law^(EA) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,^(EB) but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,^(EC) the one who is able to save and destroy.^(ED) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?^(EE)

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen,^(EF) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^{(EG) 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.^{(EH) 15} Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,^(EI) we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.^{(EJ) 17} If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.^(EK)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,^(EL) you rich people,^(EM) weep and wail^(EN) because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.^{(EO) 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.^{(EP) 4} Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers^(EQ) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries^(ER) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.^{(ES) 5} You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves^(ET) in the day of slaughter.^{[k](EU) 6} You have condemned and murdered^(EV) the innocent one,^(EW) who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.^(EX) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting^(EY) for the autumn and spring rains.^{(EZ) 8} You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming^(FA) is near.^{(FB) 9} Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,^(FC) or you will be judged. The Judge^(FD) is standing at the door!^(FE)

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

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.^(FK)

The Prayer of Faith

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.^(FL) Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.^{(FM) 14} Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders^(FN) of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil^(FO) in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith^(FP) 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^(FQ) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.^(FR) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.^(FS)

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

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