1James , a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ , to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion , greeting . 2Count it all joy , my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations ; 3knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience . 4And let patience have its perfect work , that ye may be perfect and entire , lacking in nothing .
The Importance of Wisdom
5But if any of you lacketh wisdom , let him ask of God , who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not ; and it shall be given him . 6But let him ask in faith , nothing doubting : for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed . 7For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord ; 8a doubleminded man , unstable in all his ways .
The Role of Faith in Trials
9But let the brother of low degree glory in his high estate : 10and the rich , in that he is made low : because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away . 11For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind , and withereth the grass ; and the flower thereof falleth , and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings. 12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation ; for when he hath been approved , he shall receive the crown of life , which the Lord promised to them that love him .
The Temporary Nature of Wealth
13Let no man say when he is tempted , I am tempted of God ; for God cannot be tempted with evil , and he himself tempteth no man : 14but each man is tempted , when he is drawn away by his own lust , and enticed . 15Then the lust , when it hath conceived , beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death . 16Be not deceived , my beloved brethren. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above , coming down from the Father of lights , with whom can be no variation , neither shadow that is cast by turning . 18Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures .
Listening and Doing
19Ye know this , my beloved brethren . But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak , slow to wrath : 20for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God . 21Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness , receive with meekness the implanted word , which is able to save your souls . 22But be ye doers of the word , and not hearers only , deluding your own selves . 23For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer , he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror : 24for he beholdeth himself , and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was . 25But he that looketh into the perfect law , the law of liberty , and so continueth , being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing . 26If any man thinketh himself to be religious , while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart , this man ’s religion is vain . 27Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this , to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction , and to keep oneself unspotted from the world .