1 * 1:1 Or Jacob James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes who are *1:1 Lit in the Dispersiondispersed abroad: Greetings.

2 Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various *1:2 Or temptationstrials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces *1:3 Or steadfastnessendurance. 4 And let *1:4 Or steadfastnessendurance have its perfect *1:4 Lit workresult, so that you may be *1:4 Or matureperfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and *1:5 Lit does not reproachwithout reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a *1:8 I.e., a chronic doubterdouble-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 but the rich person is to glory in his *1:10 Or downfallhumiliation, because like *1:10 Lit the flower of the grassflowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out.

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has *1:12 Or passed the testbeen approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 No one is to say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted *1:13 Lit fromby God"; for God cannot be tempted *1:13 Lit of evil thingsby evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. 16 Do not be *1:16 Or misleddeceived, my beloved brothers and sisters.17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or *1:17 Lit shadow of turningshifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be *1:18 Or a certain first fruitsa kind of first fruits *1:18 Lit ofamong His creatures.

19 * 1:19 Or Know this You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20 for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all*1:21 Lit abundance of malicethat remains of wickedness, in *1:21 Or gentlenesshumility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his *1:23 Lit the face of his birth; or naturenatural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, *1:24 Lit and hehe has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but *1:25 Lit a doer of a workan active doer, this person will be blessed in *1:25 Lit his doingwhat he does.

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not *1:26 Or controlbridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained *1:27 Lit fromby the world.