章 |
1:1 |
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
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1:2 |
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy,
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1:3 |
because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance;
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1:4 |
and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
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1:5 |
If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.
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1:6 |
But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind;
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1:7 |
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1:8 |
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1:9 |
Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up,
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1:10 |
and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field.
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1:11 |
For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.
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1:12 |
Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
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1:13 |
No one, when tempted, should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one.
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1:14 |
But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it;
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1:15 |
then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.
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1:16 |
Do not be deceived, my beloved.
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1:17 |
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
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1:18 |
In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
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1:19 |
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;
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1:20 |
for your anger does not produce God's righteousness.
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1:21 |
Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
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1:22 |
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
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1:23 |
For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror;
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1:24 |
for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.
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1:25 |
But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act-- they will be blessed in their doing.
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1:26 |
If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.
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1:27 |
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
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