-
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.
-
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
-
Trial and Temptation
Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.
-
Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
-
For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror;
-
But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.
-
and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,”
-
Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him?
-
But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you, is it not they who drag you into court?
-
Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable name by which you are called?
-
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
-
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” said also, “Do not kill.” If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.
-
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
-
For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment.
-
Taming the Tongue
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.
-
For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
-
If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.
-
And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell.
-
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.
-
Two Kinds of Wisdom
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
-
And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
-
Unfaithful creatures! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
-
Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to dejection.
-
There is one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you that you judge your neighbor?
-
Boasting about Tomorrow
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain”;
