1 From: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. To: The twelve tribes in the Dispersion. Greetings.
1 (a)(A)James, a (B)bond-servant of God and (C)of the Lord Jesus Christ,To (D)the twelve tribes who are (b)(E)dispersed abroad: (F)Greetings.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
3 Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].
4 But you must let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
4 And let (e)(L)endurance have its perfect (f)result, so that you may be (g)(M)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him.
5 But if any of you (N)lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and (h)without reproach, and (O)it will be given to him.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.(G)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith, without any doubts, for the one who has doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
6 But he must (P)ask in faith (Q)without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, (R)driven and tossed by the wind.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
6 But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God’s willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind.
7 Such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
7 For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord,
9 A brother of humble means should rejoice in his having been exalted,
9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
9 The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation,
9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position [as a born-again believer, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God];
10 and a rich person in his having been humbled, because he will fade away like a wild flower.
10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because (V)like (k)flowering grass he will pass away.
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
10 but the one who is rich should boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field.(I)
10 and the rich man is to glory in being humbled [by trials revealing human frailty, knowing true riches are found in the grace of God], for like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass. The flower in it drops off, and its beauty is gone. That is how the rich person will fade away in his pursuits.
11 For the sun rises with (l)(W)a scorching wind and (X)withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it 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 ways.
12 How blessed is the man who endures temptation! When he has passed the test, he will receive the victor's crown of life that God has promised to those who keep on loving him.
12 (Y)Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has (m)been approved, he will receive (Z)the crown of life which the Lord (AA)has promised to those who (AB)love Him.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
12 A man who endures trials(c) is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown(K) of life that God(d) has promised to those who love Him.(L)
12 Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 When someone is tempted, he should not say, "I am being tempted by God," because God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “(AC)I am being tempted (n)by God”; for God cannot be tempted (o)by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil,(e) and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God” [for temptation does not originate from God, but from our own flaws]; for God cannot be tempted by [what is] evil, and He Himself tempts no one.
14 Instead, each person is tempted by his own desire, being lured and trapped by it.
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
14 But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion).
15 When that desire becomes pregnant, it gives birth to sin; and when that sin grows up, it gives birth to death.
15 Then (AD)when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when (AE)sin (p)is accomplished, it brings forth death.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.(N)
15 Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death.
17 Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow.
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is (AH)from above, coming down from (AI)the Father of lights, (AJ)with whom there is no variation or (r)shifting shadow.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 In accordance with his will he made us his children by the word of truth, so that we might become the most important of his creatures.
18 In the exercise of (AK)His will He (AL)brought us forth by (AM)the word of truth, so that we would be (s)a kind of (AN)first fruits (t)among His creatures.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
18 By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth(f) so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.(Q)
18 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes].
19 You must understand this, my dear brothers. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
19 (u)This (AO)you know, (AP)my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, (AQ)slow to speak and (AR)slow to anger;
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
19 My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger,(R)
19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];
20 For human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
20 for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.
20 for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].
21 Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls.
21 Therefore, (AT)putting aside all filthiness and all (v)that remains of wickedness, in (w)humility receive (AU)the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 Keep on being obedient to the word, and not merely being hearers who deceive themselves.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].
23 For if anyone hears the word but is not obedient to it, he is like a man who looks at himself in a mirror
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his (x)natural face (AW)in a mirror;
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 and studies himself carefully, and then goes off and immediately forgets what he looks like.
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, (y)he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But the one who looks at the perfect law of freedom and remains committed to it thereby demonstrating that he is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of what that law requires will be blessed in what he does.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, (AX)the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but (z)an effectual doer, this man will be (AY)blessed in (aa)what he does.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If anyone thinks that he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but instead deceives himself, his religion is worthless.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not (ab)(AZ)bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
26 If anyone(j) thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue,(V) then his religion is useless and he deceives himself.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious [scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless (futile, barren).
27 A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
27 Pure and undefiled religion (BA)in the sight of our God and Father is this: to (BB)visit (BC)orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained (ac)by (BD)the world.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
27 Pure and undefiled religion before our(k) God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows(W) in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.(X)
27 Pure and unblemished religion [as it is expressed in outward acts] in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit and look after the fatherless and the widows in their distress, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the [secular] world.
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International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.
King James Version Public Domain
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