A Greeting from James

(Jude 1:1–2)

1 James, a servant of God and of [the] Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion:[fn] Greetings.

Rejoicing in Trials

(Philippians 1:12–20)

2 Consider [it] pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Allow perseverance to finish [its] work, so that you may be mature and complete, [not] lacking [anything].

5 Now 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. 6 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. 7 That man {should} not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 [He is] a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position. 10 But the [one who is] rich [should exult] in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11 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.

12 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.

Good and Perfect Gifts

13 When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, [nor] does He tempt [anyone]. 14 But each one is tempted [when] by [his] own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. 15 Then [after] desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 {Do} not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 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.[fn] 18 He chose to give us birth through [the] word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.[fn]

Hearing and Doing

19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, [and] slow to anger, 20 for man’s anger {does} not bring about [the] righteousness that God [desires]. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, [and] humbly accept the word planted [in you], which can save your souls.

22 Be doers of [the] word, and not hearers only. [Otherwise,] you are deceiving yourselves. 23 For anyone who hears [the] word but does not carry it out is like a man [who] looks at his face in a mirror, 24 [and] after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he [looks] like. 25 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.

26 If anyone considers himself religious [and yet] does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart [and his] religion [is] worthless. 27 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.

A Warning against Favoritism

2 My brothers, as you hold out [your] faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, {do} not [show] favoritism.

2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting[fn] [wearing] a gold ring [and] fine clothes, and a poor [man] in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 [If] you lavish attention on the [man] in fine clothes and say, Here [is] a seat of honor,” [but] say to the poor [man], “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges [with] evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers: {Has} not God chosen the poor of this world [to be] rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. [Is it] not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 {Are} they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?[fn]

8 If you really fulfill [the] royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[fn] you are doing well. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin [and] are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one [point] is guilty of [breaking] all of it. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,”[fn] also said, Do not murder.”[fn] If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by [the] law that gives freedom. 13 For judgment without mercy [ will be shown to ] anyone who has not been merciful Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Works

(Galatians 3:1–9)

14 What good [is it], my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 [If] one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but {does} not provide for [his] physical needs, what good [ is that ]? 17 So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action,[fn] is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you [my] faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that God is one.[fn] Good for you! Even the demons believe [that]—and shudder.

20 O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?[fn] 21 {Was} not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that [his] faith was working with his actions, and [his] faith was perfected by what he did. 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[fn] and he was called a friend of God.[fn] 24 As you can see a man is justified by [his] deeds and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, {was} not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies[fn] and sent [them] off on another route? 26 As the body without [the] spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Taming the Tongue

(Psalm 64:1–10)

3 Not many [of you] should become teachers, my brothers, [because] you know that we [ who teach ] will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone {is} never at fault in what he says, he [is] a perfect man, able to control [his] whole body.

3 [When] we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal. 4 Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined

5 In the same way the tongue is a small part of the body, [but] it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest {ablaze}. 6 The tongue also [is] a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the [body]. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life {on fire}, and is itself set on fire by hell.[fn]

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man 8 but no man can tame the tongue. [It is] a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be 11 [Can] [both] fresh [water] and salt [water][fn] flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine [bear] figs? Neither [can] a salt [spring][fn] produce fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

13 Who [is] wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by [his] good conduct, [by] deeds [done] in [the] humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you {harbor} bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, {do} not boast [in it] or deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom [does] not come from above, but [is] earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition [exist], there [ will be ] disorder and every evil practice.

17 But [the] wisdom from above is first [of all] pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, [and] sincere. 18 Peacemakers [who] sow in peace [ reap ] [the] fruit of righteousness.[fn]

A Warning against Pride

4 What [causes] conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t [they] [come] from [the] passions at war within you 2 You crave [what] {you do} not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain [it]. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you {do} not ask. 3 [And when] you do ask {you do} not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander [it] on your pleasures.

4 [You] adulteresses![fn] Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility [toward] God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself[fn] an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think the Scripture says without reason [that] the Spirit[fn] He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?

6 But He gives [us] more grace. This is why it says: God opposes [the] proud, but gives grace to [the] humble.”[fn]

Drawing Near to God

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [you] sinners, and purify [your] hearts, [you] double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and [your] joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before [the] Lord, and He will exalt you.

11 Brothers, [do] not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against [his] brother or judges [him] speaks against [the] law and judges [it]. And if you judge [the] law, you are not a practitioner of [the] law, but a judge [of it]. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the [One who] is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge [your] neighbor?

Do Not Boast about Tomorrow

(Proverbs 27:1)

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” 14 You do not even know what [will happen] tomorrow! What [is] your life? You are a mist that appears for a little [while] and then vanishes.

15 Instead, you [ought] to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows [the] right thing to do, yet fails to do [it], is guilty of sin.

A Warning to the Rich

(Proverbs 23:1–5, 1 Timothy 6:17–19)

5 Come now, [you who are] rich, weep [and] wail over the misery to come upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes.

3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in [the] last days. 4 Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of [the] Lord of Hosts.

5 {You have lived} on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in [the] day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned [and] murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.

Patience in Suffering

(Job 1:1–5)

7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for [the fall] and [spring rains].[fn] 8 You, too, be patient [and] strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 {Do} not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!

10 Brothers, [as] an example of patience in affliction take the prophets who spoke in the name of [the] Lord. 11 See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from [the] Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

12 Above all, my brothers, {do} not swear, not [by] heaven [or] earth [or by] any other oath. Simply {let} your “Yes” be yes, and [your] “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

The Prayer of Faith

13 {Is} any one of you suffering? He should pray. {Is} anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 {Is} any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up If he has sinned he will be forgiven

16 Therefore confess [your] sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. [The] prayer of a righteous [man] has great power to prevail. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly [that it would] not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and [a half] years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.

Restoring a Sinner

19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back 20 consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from [the] error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.