CHAPTER 1
James,
a servant
of God
and
of the Lord
Jesus
Christ,
To the
twelve
tribes
in
the
Dispersion:
Greetings.
Allow
perseverance
to finish
its work,
so that
you may be
mature
and
complete,
not lacking
anything.
If
any
of you
lacks
wisdom,
he should ask
God,
who
gives
generously
to all
without
finding fault,
and
it will be given
to him.
But
he must ask
in
faith,
without
doubting,
because
he who
doubts
is like
a wave
of the sea,
blown
and
tossed by the wind.
But
the one who is
rich
should exult in
his
low position,
because
he will pass away
like
a flower
of the field.
For
the
sun
rises
with
scorching heat
and
withers
the
plant;
its
flower
falls
and
its
beauty
is lost.
So
too,
the
rich man
will fade away
in the midst of
his
pursuits.
Blessed is the
man
who
perseveres
under trial,
because
when he has
stood the test,
he will receive
the
crown
of life
that
God has promised
to those who
love
Him.
When tempted,
no one
should say,
“God
is tempting me.”
For
God
cannot be tempted
by evil,
nor
does He tempt
anyone.
Then
after desire
has conceived,
it gives birth to
sin;
and
sin,
when it is fully grown,
gives birth to
death.
Every
good
and
perfect
gift
is
from above,
coming down
from
the
Father
of the heavenly lights,
with
whom
there is
no
change
or
shifting
shadow.
He chose
to give us birth
through the word
of truth,
that
we
would be
a kind of
firstfruits
of His
creation.
My
beloved
brothers,
understand this:
Everyone
should be
quick
to
listen,
slow
to
speak,
and slow
to
anger,
Therefore,
get rid
of all
moral filth
and
every expression
of evil,
and humbly
receive
the
word
planted in you,
which
can
save
your
souls.
For
anyone
who hears
the word
but
does not carry it out
is like
a man who
looks
at his
face
in
a mirror,
But
the one who
looks intently
into
the perfect
law
of freedom,
and
continues to do so—
not
being
a forgetful
hearer,
but
an effective
doer—
he
will be
blessed
in
what
he
does.
If
anyone
considers himself
religious
and yet does not bridle
his
tongue,
he deceives
his
heart
and his
religion
is worthless.
Pure
and
undefiled
religion
before
our
God
and
Father
is
this:
to care for
orphans
and
widows
in
their
distress,
and to keep
oneself
from being polluted
by
the
world.