NRSV James 1 Chapter
1 2 3 4 5
1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
1:2
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy,
1:3
because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance;
1:4
and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
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.
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;
1:7
1:8
1:9
Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up,
1:10
and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field.
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.
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.
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.
1:14
But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it;
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.
1:16
Do not be deceived, my beloved.
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.
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.
1:19
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;
1:20
for your anger does not produce God's righteousness.
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.
1:22
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
1:23
For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror;
1:24
for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.
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.
1:26
If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.
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.