Blessed are the merciful! they will find mercy.

rejoice and exult in it, for your reward is rich in heaven; that is how they persecuted the prophets before you.

Therefore whoever relaxes a single one of these commands, were it even one of the least, and teaches men so, he will be ranked least in the Realm of heaven; but whoever obeys them and teaches them, he will be ranked great in the Realm of heaven.) For I tell you, unless your goodness excels that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the Realm of heaven.

whoever maligns his brother must come before the San hedrin, whoever curses his brother must go to the fire of Gehenna.' But I tell you, whoever is angry with his brother [without cause] will be sentenced by God.

Once again, you have heard how the men of old were told, 'You must not forswear yourself but discharge your vows to the Lord'. But I tell you, you must not swear any oath, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God, read more. nor by earth, for it is the footstool of his feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King; nor shall you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let what you say be simply 'yes' or 'no'; whatever exceeds that springs from evil.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, then your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men, your Father will not forgive your trespasses either.

Store up no treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust corrode, where thieves break in and steal:

No one can serve two masters: either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will stand by the one and despise the other ??you cannot serve both God and Mammon.

Judge not, that you may not be judged yourselves; for as you judge so you will be judged, and the measure you deal out to others will be dealt out to yourselves.

Ask and the gift will be yours, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to you; for every one who asks receives, the seeker finds, the door is opened to anyone who knocks. read more. Why, which of you, when asked by his son for a loaf, will hand him a stone? Or, if he asks a fish, will you hand him a serpent? Well, if for all your evil you know to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?

It is not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord!', who will get into the Realm of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me at that Day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? did we not cast out daemons in your name? did we not perform many miracles in your name?' read more. Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from my presence, you workers of iniquity.'

Woe to you, you impious scribes and Pharisees! you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and omit the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faithfulness; these latter you ought to have practised ??without omit ting the former.

Now here is John's testimony. When the Jews of Jerusalem despatched priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?"

When they had finished speaking, James spoke. "Brothers," he said, "listen to me. Symeon has explained how it was God's original concern to secure a People from among the Gentiles to bear his Name. read more. This agrees with the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent, its ruins I will rebuild and erect it anew, that the rest of men may seek for the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, saith the Lord, who makes this known from of old. Hence, in my opinion, we ought not to put fresh difficulties in the way of those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but write them injunctions to abstain from whatever is contaminated by idols, from sexual vice, from the flesh of animals that have been strangled, and from tasting blood; for Moses has had his preachers from the earliest ages in every town, where he is read aloud in the synagogues every sabbath."

The holy Spirit and we have decided not to impose any extra burden on you, apart from these essential requirements:

If you bear the name of 'Jew,' relying on the Law, priding yourself on God, understanding his will, and with a sense of what is vital in religion; if you are instructed by the Law read more. and are persuaded that you are a guide to the blind, a light to darkened souls, a tutor for the foolish, a teacher of the simple, because in the Law you have the embodiment of knowledge and truth ??21 well then, do you ever teach yourself, you teacher of other people? You preach against stealing; do you steal?

You forbid adultery; do you commit adultery? You detest idols; do you rob temples? You pride yourself on the Law; do you dishonour God by your breaches of the Law? read more. Why, it is owing to you that the name of God is maligned among the Gentiles, as scripture says! Circumcision is certainly of use, provided you keep the Law; but if you are a breaker of the Law, then your circumcision is turned into uncircumcision.

Not only so, but we triumph even in our troubles, knowing that trouble produces endurance,

you must not let sin have your members for the service of vice, you must dedicate yourselves to God as men who have been brought from death to life, dedicating your members to God for the service of righteousness.

but then I find quite another law in my members which conflicts with the law of my mind and makes me a prisoner to sin's law that resides in my members.

Who are you to criticize the servant of Another? It is for his Master to say whether he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Master has power to make him stand.

Any man who prays or prophesies with a veil on his head dishonours his head, while any woman who prays or prophesies without a veil on her head dishonours her head; she is no better than a shaven woman. read more. If a woman will not veil herself, she should cut off her hair as well. But she ought to veil herself; for it is disgraceful that a woman should have her hair cut off or be shaven. Man does not require to have a veil on his head, for he represents the likeness and supremacy of God; but woman represents the supremacy of man. (Man was not made from woman, woman was made from man; and man was not created for woman, but woman for man.) Therefore, in view of the angels, woman must wear a symbol of subjection on her head. (Of course, in the Lord, woman does not exist apart from man, any more than man apart from woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now made from woman, while both, like all things, come from God.) Judge for yourselves; is it proper for an unveiled woman to pray to God? Surely nature herself teaches you that while long hair is disgraceful for a man, for a woman long hair is a glory? Her hair is given her as a covering.

I may prophesy, fathom all mysteries and secret lore, I may have such absolute faith that I can move hills from their place, but if I have no love, I count for nothing;

If anyone considers himself a prophet or gifted with the Spirit, let him understand that what I write to you is a command of the Lord.

All the brotherhood salutes you. Salute one another with a holy kiss.

and he has further qualified me to be the minister of a new covenant ??a covenant not of written law but of spirit; for the written law kills but the Spirit makes alive. Now if the administration of death which was engraved in letters of stone, was invested with glory ??so much so, that the children of Israel could not gaze at the face of Moses on account of the dazzling glory that was fading from his face; read more. surely the administration of the Spirit must be invested with still greater glory. If there was glory in the administration that condemned, then the administration that acquits abounds far more in glory (indeed, in view of the transcendent glory, what was glorious has thus no glory at all); if what faded had its glory, then what lasts will be invested with far greater glory. Such being my hope then, I am quite frank and open ??13 not like Moses, who used to hang a veil over his face to keep the children of Israel from gazing at the last rays of a fading glory.

Besides, their minds were dulled, for to this very day, when the Old Testament is read aloud, the same veil hangs. Veiled from them the fact that the glory fades in Christ! Yes, down to this day, whenever Moses is read aloud, the veil rests on their heart; read more. though whenever they turn to the Lord, the veil is removed. (The Lord means the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is open freedom.) But we all mirror the glory of the Lord with face unveiled, and so we are being transformed into the same likeness as himself, passing from one glory to another ??for this comes of the Lord the Spirit.

in Christ Jesus circumcision is not valid, neither is uncircumcision, but only faith active in love.

James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: greeting. Greet it as pure joy, my brothers, when you come across any sort of trial,

Greet it as pure joy, my brothers, when you come across any sort of trial,

Greet it as pure joy, my brothers, when you come across any sort of trial, sure that the sterling temper of your faith produces endurance; read more. only, let your endurance be a finished product, so that you may be finished and complete, with never a defect. Whoever of you is defective in wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all men without question or reproach, and the gift will be his.

Let no one who is tried by temptation say, 'My temptation comes from God'; God is incapable of being tempted by evil and he tempts no one.

It was his own will that we should be born by the Word of the truth, to be a kind of firstfruits among his creatures.

Act on the Word, instead of merely listening to it and deluding yourselves.

Act on the Word, instead of merely listening to it and deluding yourselves. For whoever listens and does nothing, is like a man who glances at his natural face in a mirror; read more. he glances at himself, goes off, and at once forgets what he was like. Whereas he who gazes into the faultless law of freedom and remains in that position, proving himself to be no forgetful listener but an active agent, he will be blessed in his activity. Whoever considers he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, his religion is futile. Pure, unsoiled religion in the judgment of God the Father means this: to care for orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself from the stain of the world.

Suppose there comes into your meeting a man who wears gold rings and handsome clothes, and also a poor man in dirty clothes;

Suppose there comes into your meeting a man who wears gold rings and handsome clothes, and also a poor man in dirty clothes;

Listen, my beloved brothers; has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the realm which he has promised to those who love him?

Is it not they who scoff at the noble Name you bear? If you really fulfil the royal law laid down by scripture, You must love your neighbour as yourself, well and good;

For whoever obeys the whole of the Law and only makes a single slip, is guilty of everything.

For whoever obeys the whole of the Law and only makes a single slip, is guilty of everything.

for the judgment will be merciless to the man who has shown no mercy ??whereas the merciful life will triumph in the face of judgment.

So faith, unless it has deeds, is dead in itself.

So faith, unless it has deeds, is dead in itself.

When our father Abraham offered his son Isaac on the altar, was he not justified by what he did? In his case, you see, faith co-operated with deeds, faith was completed by deeds, read more. and the scripture was fulfilled: Abraham believed God, and this was counted to him as righteousness ??he was called God's friend.

and the scripture was fulfilled: Abraham believed God, and this was counted to him as righteousness ??he was called God's friend.

and the scripture was fulfilled: Abraham believed God, and this was counted to him as righteousness ??he was called God's friend.

For as the body without the breath of life is dead, so faith is dead without deeds.

My brothers, do not swell the ranks of the teachers; remember, we teachers will be judged with special strictness. We all make many a slip, but whoever avoids slips of speech is a perfect man; he can bridle the whole of the body as well as the tongue.

We all make many a slip, but whoever avoids slips of speech is a perfect man; he can bridle the whole of the body as well as the tongue. We put bridles into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and so, you see, we can move the whole of their bodies.

We put bridles into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and so, you see, we can move the whole of their bodies.

We put bridles into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and so, you see, we can move the whole of their bodies. Look at ships too; for all their size and speed under stiff winds, they are turned by a tiny rudder wherever the mind of the steersman chooses.

Look at ships too; for all their size and speed under stiff winds, they are turned by a tiny rudder wherever the mind of the steersman chooses.

Look at ships too; for all their size and speed under stiff winds, they are turned by a tiny rudder wherever the mind of the steersman chooses. So the tongue is a small member of the body, but it can boast of great exploits. What a forest is set ablaze by a little spark of fire!

So the tongue is a small member of the body, but it can boast of great exploits. What a forest is set ablaze by a little spark of fire!

So the tongue is a small member of the body, but it can boast of great exploits. What a forest is set ablaze by a little spark of fire! And the tongue is a fire, the tongue proves a very world of mischief among our members, staining the whole of the body and setting fire to the round circle of existence with a flame fed by hell.

And the tongue is a fire, the tongue proves a very world of mischief among our members, staining the whole of the body and setting fire to the round circle of existence with a flame fed by hell.

And the tongue is a fire, the tongue proves a very world of mischief among our members, staining the whole of the body and setting fire to the round circle of existence with a flame fed by hell. For while every kind of beast and bird, of creeping animals and creatures marine, is tameable and has been tamed by mankind,

For while every kind of beast and bird, of creeping animals and creatures marine, is tameable and has been tamed by mankind,

For while every kind of beast and bird, of creeping animals and creatures marine, is tameable and has been tamed by mankind, no man can tame the tongue ??plague of disorder that it is, full of deadly venom!

no man can tame the tongue ??plague of disorder that it is, full of deadly venom!

no man can tame the tongue ??plague of disorder that it is, full of deadly venom! With the tongue we bless the Lord and Father, and with the tongue we curse men made in God's likeness;

With the tongue we bless the Lord and Father, and with the tongue we curse men made in God's likeness;

With the tongue we bless the Lord and Father, and with the tongue we curse men made in God's likeness; blessing and cursing stream from the same lips! My brothers, this ought not to be.

blessing and cursing stream from the same lips! My brothers, this ought not to be.

blessing and cursing stream from the same lips! My brothers, this ought not to be. Does a fountain pour out fresh water and brackish from the same hole?

Does a fountain pour out fresh water and brackish from the same hole?

Does a fountain pour out fresh water and brackish from the same hole? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives? Or a vine, figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives? Or a vine, figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives? Or a vine, figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. Who among you is wise and learned? Let him show by his good conduct, with the modesty of wisdom, what his deeds are.

Who among you is wise and learned? Let him show by his good conduct, with the modesty of wisdom, what his deeds are. But if you are cherishing bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on that ??and be false to the truth.

But if you are cherishing bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on that ??and be false to the truth. That is not the wisdom which comes down from above, it is an earthly wisdom, sensuous, devilish; read more. for wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there disorder reigns and every evil. The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, forbearing, conciliatory, full of mercy and wholesome fruit, unambiguous, straightforward;

The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, forbearing, conciliatory, full of mercy and wholesome fruit, unambiguous, straightforward; and the peacemakers who sow in peace reap righteousness.

and the peacemakers who sow in peace reap righteousness.

Where do conflicts, where do wrangles come from, in your midst? Is it not from these passions of yours that war among your members?

Where do conflicts, where do wrangles come from, in your midst? Is it not from these passions of yours that war among your members?

(Wanton creatures! do you not know that the world's friendship means enmity to God? Whoever, then, chooses to be the world's friend, turns enemy to God.

Yet he gives grace more and more: thus it is said, The haughty God opposes, but to the humble he gives grace. Well then, submit yourselves to God; resist the devil, and he will fly from you:

Well then, submit yourselves to God; resist the devil, and he will fly from you:

Lament and mourn and weep, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to depression; humble yourselves before the Lord, and then he will raise you up. read more. [vss

&

[vss

& follow 2:13] Do not defame one another, brothers; he who defames or judges his brother defames and judges the Law; and if you judge the Law, you pass sentence on it instead of obeying it.

One alone is the legislator, who passes sentence; it is He who is able to save and to destroy; who are you, to judge your neighbour?

But here you are, boasting in your proud pretensions! All such boasting is wicked. [follows 2:26] Whoever, then, knows what is right to do and does not do it, that is a sin for him.

Come now, you rich men, weep and shriek over your impending miseries! your wealth lies rotting, and your clothes are moth-eaten;

your wealth lies rotting, and your clothes are moth-eaten; your gold and silver lie rusted over, and their rust will be evidence against you, it will devour your flesh like fire. [Moved to the end of 5:1] You have been storing up treasure in the very last days; read more. See, the wages of which you have defrauded the workmen who mowed your fields call out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

See, the wages of which you have defrauded the workmen who mowed your fields call out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts. You have revelled on earth and plunged into dissipation; you have fattened yourselves as for the Day of slaughter; read more. you have condemned, you have murdered the righteous ??unresisting. Be patient, then, brothers, till the arrival of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious crop of the land, biding his time patiently till he gets the autumn and the spring rains;

Be patient, then, brothers, till the arrival of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious crop of the land, biding his time patiently till he gets the autumn and the spring rains; have patience yourselves, strengthen your hearts, for the arrival of the Lord is at hand.

have patience yourselves, strengthen your hearts, for the arrival of the Lord is at hand. Do not murmur against one another, brothers, lest you are judged; look, the Judge is standing at the very door! read more. As an example of fortitude and endurance, brothers, take the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord.

As an example of fortitude and endurance, brothers, take the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord. See, we call the stedfast happy; you have heard of the stedfastness of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord with him, seen that the Lord is very compassionate and pitiful. read more. Above all, my brothers, never swear an oath, either by heaven or by earth or by anything else; let your "yes" be a plain "yes," your "no" a plain "no," lest you incur judgment.

Is anyone ill? let him summon the presbyters of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; the prayer of faith will restore the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; even the sins he has committed will be forgiven him.

understand that he who brings a sinner back from the error of his way saves his soul from death and hides a host of sins.

Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a life of hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

You will rejoice then, though for the passing moment you may need to suffer various trials;

for All flesh is like the grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass: the grass withers and the flower fades,

Beloved, as sojourners and exiles I appeal to you to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war upon the soul. Conduct yourselves properly before pagans; so that for all their slander of you as bad characters, they may come to glorify God when you are put upon your trial, by what they see of your good deeds.

Above all, be keen to love one another, for love hides a host of sins.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the ordeal that has come to test you, as though some foreign experience befell you. You are sharing what Christ suffered; so rejoice in it, that you may also rejoice and exult when his glory is revealed. read more. If you are denounced for the sake of Christ, you are blessed; for then the Spirit of glory and power, the Spirit of God himself, is resting on you.

You younger men must also submit to the presbyters. Indeed you must all put on the apron of humility to serve one another, for the haughty God opposes, but to the humble he gives grace. Humble yourselves under the strong hand of God, then, so that when it is time, he may raise you;

Humble yourselves under the strong hand of God, then, so that when it is time, he may raise you;

Humble yourselves under the strong hand of God, then, so that when it is time, he may raise you;

Resist him; keep your foothold in the faith, and learn to pay the same tax of suffering as the rest of your brotherhood throughout the world.