Hearing and Doing

19 So then, my beloved brothers, everyone[fn] 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[fn] 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 among you[fn] 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.