Greeting
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1James, a servanta of God and 2of the Lord Jesus Christ, To 3the twelve tribes in 4the Dispersion: Greetings.
Testing of Your Faith
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And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be 9perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
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10If any of you lacks wisdom, 11let him ask God, 12who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
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But 13let him ask in faith, 14with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like 15a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
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For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
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Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
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For the sun rises with its scorching heat and 20withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
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21Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive 22the crown of life, 23which God has promised to those who love him.
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Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
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But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
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Then desire 24when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and 25sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
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Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
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26Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from 27the Father of lights 28with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.d
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29Of his own will he 30brought us forth by the word of truth, 31that we should be a kind of 32firstfruits of his creatures.
Hearing and Doing the Word
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33Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person 34be quick to hear, 35slow to speak, 36slow to anger;
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for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
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Therefore 37put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with 38meekness the implanted word, 39which is able to save your souls.
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For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
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For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
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But the one who looks into the perfect law, 41the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, 42he will be blessed in his doing.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)