1 James|strong="G2385", a|strong="G2532" servant|strong="G1401" of|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316" and|strong="G2532" of|strong="G2316" the|strong="G1722" Lord|strong="G2962" Jesus|strong="G2424" Christ|strong="G5547", greets the|strong="G1722" twelve|strong="G1427" tribes|strong="G5443" that|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" living abroad|strong="G1290".
2 My|strong="G3956" friends, whatever|strong="G3956" trials|strong="G3986" you|strong="G3752" may|strong="G3956" face from time to|strong="G3956" time, always|strong="G3956" regard|strong="G2233" them|strong="G3956" as|strong="G2233" a|strong="G3752" reason for|strong="G3956" rejoicing|strong="G5479",
3 knowing|strong="G1097", as|strong="G3754" you|strong="G5210" do|strong="G2716", that|strong="G3754" the|strong="G3588" testing|strong="G1383" of|strong="G4102" your|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102" develops endurance|strong="G5281".
4 And|strong="G2532" let|strong="G1161" endurance|strong="G5281" do|strong="G2532" its work|strong="G2041" perfectly, so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" you|strong="G1722" may|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1510" altogether perfect|strong="G5046", and|strong="G2532" in|strong="G1722" no|strong="G3367" respect lacking|strong="G3007".
5 If|strong="G1487" any|strong="G5100" one|strong="G5100" of|strong="G2316" you|strong="G5210" lacks|strong="G3007" wisdom|strong="G4678", they|strong="G2532" should|strong="G5100" ask wisdom|strong="G4678" from|strong="G3844" the|strong="G2532" God|strong="G2316" who|strong="G3588" gives|strong="G1325" freely|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" everyone|strong="G3956" without|strong="G3361" reproach|strong="G3679", and|strong="G2532" it|strong="G2532" will|strong="G2316" be|strong="G2532" given|strong="G1325" to|strong="G2532" them|strong="G3588".
6 But|strong="G1161" they|strong="G2532" should|strong="G3588" ask with|strong="G1722" confidence|strong="G1722", never|strong="G3367" doubting|strong="G1252"; for|strong="G1063" the|strong="G1722" person who|strong="G3588" doubts|strong="G1252" is|strong="G3588" like|strong="G1503" a|strong="G2532" wave|strong="G2830" of|strong="G2532" the|strong="G1722" sea|strong="G2281" driven here|strong="G1722" and|strong="G2532" there|strong="G2532" at|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" mercy of|strong="G2532" the|strong="G1722" wind|strong="G4494" –
7 Such|strong="G5100" a|strong="G2983" person|strong="G5100" must|strong="G5100" not|strong="G3361" expect|strong="G3633" that|strong="G3754" they|strong="G3588" will|strong="G2962" receive|strong="G2983" anything|strong="G5100" from|strong="G3844" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962",
8 vacillating as|strong="G1722" they|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588", irresolute at|strong="G1722" every|strong="G3956" turn.
9 Let|strong="G1161" a|strong="G1722" follower in|strong="G1722" humble|strong="G5011" circumstances|strong="G1722" be|strong="G3588" proud of|strong="G1722" their|strong="G1722" exalted|strong="G5311" position|strong="G5311",
10 but|strong="G1161" a|strong="G5613" rich|strong="G4145" follower of|strong="G1722" their|strong="G1722" humiliation|strong="G5014"; for|strong="G3754" the|strong="G1722" rich|strong="G4145" will|strong="G3748" pass|strong="G3928" away|strong="G3928" like|strong="G5613" a|strong="G5613" wild flower.
11 As|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" sun|strong="G2246" rises, and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G1722" hot|strong="G2742" wind|strong="G2742" blows, the|strong="G1722" plant withers|strong="G3583", its flower fades, and|strong="G2532" all|strong="G2532" its beauty|strong="G2143" is|strong="G3588" gone. So|strong="G3779" it|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3588" with|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" rich|strong="G4145". In|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" midst of|strong="G2532" their|strong="G2532" pursuits|strong="G4197" they|strong="G2532" will|strong="G2532" wither|strong="G3583" away|strong="G3583".
12 Blessed|strong="G3107" is|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" person|strong="G3739" who|strong="G3739" remains firm under|strong="G5278" temptation|strong="G3986", for|strong="G3754", when|strong="G1096" they|strong="G3588" have|strong="G3748" stood|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" test, they|strong="G3588" will|strong="G3739" receive|strong="G2983" the|strong="G3588" crown|strong="G4735" of|strong="G4735" life|strong="G2222", which|strong="G3739" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G3588" has|strong="G3739" promised|strong="G1861" to|strong="G1096" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3739" love him|strong="G3588".
13 Let|strong="G1161" no|strong="G3762" one|strong="G3762" say|strong="G3004", when|strong="G1161" they|strong="G1161" are|strong="G1510" tempted|strong="G3985", ‘It|strong="G3754" is|strong="G1510" God|strong="G2316" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" tempting|strong="G3985" me|strong="G3004"!’ For|strong="G1063" God|strong="G2316", who|strong="G3588" cannot be|strong="G1510" tempted|strong="G3985" to|strong="G3004" do|strong="G3004" wrong|strong="G2556", does|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3367" himself tempt|strong="G3985" anyone|strong="G3367".
14 A|strong="G2532" man|strong="G1538" is|strong="G3588" in|strong="G2532" every|strong="G1538" case|strong="G3588" tempted|strong="G3985" by|strong="G5259" their|strong="G2532" own|strong="G2398" passions|strong="G1939" – allured and|strong="G2532" enticed|strong="G1185" by|strong="G5259" them|strong="G3588".
15 Then|strong="G1161" passion conceives|strong="G4815" and|strong="G1161" gives|strong="G5088" birth|strong="G5088" to|strong="G1161" sin, and|strong="G1161" sin, on|strong="G1161" reaching|strong="G1161" maturity, brings|strong="G5088" forth|strong="G5088" death|strong="G2288".
16 Do|strong="G3361" not|strong="G3361" be|strong="G3361" deceived|strong="G4105", my|strong="G1473" dear friends.
17 Every|strong="G3956" good|strong="G3956" thing|strong="G3956" given|strong="G1394" us, and|strong="G2532" every|strong="G3956" perfect|strong="G5046" gift|strong="G1434", is|strong="G1510" from|strong="G3844" above|strong="G3844", and|strong="G2532" comes|strong="G2597" down|strong="G2597" to|strong="G2532" us from|strong="G3844" the|strong="G2532" Father|strong="G3962" of|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" lights|strong="G5457" in|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" heavens, who|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" himself never|strong="G3756" subject to|strong="G2532" change or|strong="G2228" to|strong="G2532" eclipse.
18 Because|strong="G1510" he|strong="G3588" so|strong="G1519" willed, he|strong="G3588" gave|strong="G3588" us|strong="G1519" life, through the|strong="G1519" message|strong="G3056" of|strong="G3056" the|strong="G1519" truth, so|strong="G1519" that|strong="G3588" we|strong="G2249" should|strong="G5100" be|strong="G1510", as|strong="G1519" it|strong="G1510" were|strong="G1510", a|strong="G1519" kind|strong="G5100" of|strong="G3056" first|strong="G3588" fruits of|strong="G3056" his|strong="G1519" creation|strong="G2938".
19 Mark this|strong="G3588", my|strong="G3956" dear friends – Let|strong="G1161" everyone|strong="G3956" be|strong="G1510" quick|strong="G5036" to|strong="G1519" listen|strong="G1492", slow|strong="G1021" to|strong="G1519" speak|strong="G2980", and|strong="G1161" slow|strong="G1021" to|strong="G1519" get angry;
20 for|strong="G1063" human anger|strong="G3709" does|strong="G2038" not|strong="G3756" forward the|strong="G1063" righteous purpose of|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316".
21 Therefore|strong="G1352", get|strong="G4982" rid of|strong="G3056" all|strong="G3956" filthiness|strong="G4507" and|strong="G2532" whatever|strong="G3956" wickedness|strong="G2549" still remains|strong="G4050", and|strong="G2532" in|strong="G1722" a|strong="G2532" humble spirit|strong="G3588" receive|strong="G1209" that|strong="G3588" message|strong="G3056" which|strong="G3588" has|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" planted in|strong="G1722" your|strong="G2532" hearts and|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3588" able|strong="G1410" to|strong="G2532" save|strong="G4982" your|strong="G2532" souls|strong="G5590".
22 Put|strong="G2532" that|strong="G2532" message|strong="G3056" into|strong="G1096" practice, and|strong="G2532" do|strong="G1096" not|strong="G3361" merely|strong="G3441" listen to|strong="G2532" it|strong="G2532" – deceiving|strong="G3884" yourselves|strong="G1438".
23 For|strong="G3754", when|strong="G2532" anyone|strong="G5100" listens to|strong="G2532" it|strong="G2532" and|strong="G2532" does|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" practice it|strong="G2532", they|strong="G2532" are|strong="G1510" like|strong="G1503" a|strong="G2532" person|strong="G4383" looking|strong="G2532" at|strong="G1722" their|strong="G2532" own face|strong="G4383" in|strong="G1722" a|strong="G2532" mirror|strong="G2072".
24 They|strong="G2532" look|strong="G2657" at|strong="G2532" themselves|strong="G1438", then|strong="G2532" go|strong="G2532" on|strong="G2532" their|strong="G1438" way,
25 but|strong="G1161" the|strong="G1722" person|strong="G3778" who|strong="G3588" looks|strong="G3879" carefully into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G1722" perfect|strong="G5046" Law|strong="G3551", the|strong="G1722" Law|strong="G3551" of|strong="G2532" freedom|strong="G1657", and|strong="G2532" continues to|strong="G1519" do|strong="G1096" so|strong="G2532", not|strong="G3756" listening to|strong="G1519" it|strong="G2532" and|strong="G2532" then|strong="G2532" forgetting it|strong="G2532", but|strong="G1161" putting|strong="G2532" it|strong="G2532" into|strong="G1519" practice|strong="G2041" – that|strong="G3588" person|strong="G3778" will|strong="G1510" be|strong="G1096" blessed|strong="G3107" in|strong="G1722" what|strong="G3588" they|strong="G2532" do|strong="G1096".
26 When|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" person|strong="G5100" appears to|strong="G5100" be|strong="G1510" religious|strong="G2357", yet|strong="G1510" does|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3361" bridle|strong="G5468" their|strong="G3588" tongue|strong="G1100", but|strong="G1487" imposes on|strong="G3588" their|strong="G3588" own conscience|strong="G2588", that|strong="G3588" person|strong="G5100"’s religious|strong="G2357" observances are|strong="G1510" valueless.
27 That|strong="G3588" religious observance which|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" pure|strong="G2513" and|strong="G2532" spotless in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" eyes of|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316" our|strong="G2316" Father|strong="G3962" is|strong="G1510" this|strong="G3778" – to|strong="G2532" visit|strong="G1980" orphans|strong="G3737" and|strong="G2532" widows|strong="G5503" in|strong="G1722" their|strong="G1438" trouble|strong="G2347", and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" keep|strong="G5083" oneself|strong="G1438" uncontaminated by|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" world|strong="G2889".