And let endurance have [its] perfect effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for [it] from God, who gives to all without reservation and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

But let him ask for [it] in faith, without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed about.

No one who is being tempted should say, "I am being tempted by God," for God {cannot be tempted} by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

But each one is tempted [when he] is dragged away and enticed by his own desires.

Do not be deceived, my dear brothers.

[By his] will he gave birth to us through the message of truth, so that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Understand [this], my dear brothers: every person must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

But be doers of the message and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,

But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues [to do it], not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed {in what he does}.

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep oneself unstained by the world.

and you look favorably on the one wearing the fine clothing and you say, "Be seated here in a good place," and to the poor person you say, "You stand or be seated there by my footstool,"

Listen, my dear brothers! Did not God choose the poor of the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

But if you show partiality, you commit sin, [and thus] are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Thus speak and thus act as those who are going to be judged by the law of liberty.

Thus also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Was not Abraham our father justified by works [when he] offered up his son Isaac on the altar?

You see that faith was working together with his works, and by the works the faith was perfected.

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

And likewise was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works [when she] welcomed the messengers and sent [them] out by a different route?

Behold also ships: [although they] are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wishes.

And the tongue [is] a fire! The world of unrighteousness, the tongue, is set among our members, defiling the whole body and setting on fire {the course of human existence}, being set on fire by hell.

For every species of animals and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is being tamed and has been tamed by the human species,

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these [things] ought not to be so!

Who [is] wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works, with the humility of wisdom.

Adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes [himself] an enemy of God.

Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloominess.

you who do not know {what will happen tomorrow}, {what your life will be like}. For you are a smoky vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears.

Your gold and silver have become corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you, and it will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days.

Behold, the wages that were held back by you from the workers who reap your fields cry out, and the cries of the reapers have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts.

Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the soil, being patient concerning it until it receives the early and late rains.

You also be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is near.

Brothers, do not complain against one another, in order that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge stands before the doors!

Now above all, my brothers, do not swear either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no, no, in order that you may not fall under judgment.

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins {he will be forgiven}.

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much.