Salutation

Chapter 1

Greeting. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: greetings.

A Believer’s Prayer. If someone among you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

While experiencing temptation, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Exhortation To Practice Faith

Living by God’s Word. Remember this, my beloved brethren: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to anger.

For human anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and undefiled is this: to come to the aid of orphans and widows in their hardships and to keep oneself untarnished by the world.

Listen to me, my beloved brethren. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

If one of you says to such a person, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat well,” but does not take care of that person’s physical needs, what is the good of that?

You believe that there is one God. You do well to assert that. But even the demons believe and tremble.

Thus, the words of Scripture were fulfilled that say, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.

With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, and considerate, full of mercy and good fruits, without any trace of partiality or hypocrisy.

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who are peacemakers.

Adulterers! Do you not know that love of the world results in enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

But he has bestowed an even stronger grace. Therefore, it says, “God resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.”

Hence, be subject to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you waverers.

Conclusion

The Peace of Fraternal Love. My brethren, if one of you should stray from the truth and another succeeds in bringing him back,