RSV James 1 Chapter
1 2 3 4 5
1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greeting.
1:2
Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials,
1:3
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
1:4
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.
1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
1:7
For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.
1:8
For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.
1:9
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
1:10
and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
1:11
For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass;its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So will therich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
1:12
Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.
1:13
Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God';for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one;
1:14
but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
1:15
Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin;and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.
1:16
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
1:17
Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
1:18
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
1:19
Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,
1:20
for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.
1:21
Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
1:22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
1:23
For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror;
1:24
for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
1:25
But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer thatacts, he shall be blessed in his doing.
1:26
If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain.
1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,and to keep oneself unstained from the world.