From: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. To: The twelve tribes in the Dispersion. Greetings.

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.

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.

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.

You must understand this, my dear brothers. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

For human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

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.

Listen, my dear brothers! God has chosen the poor in the world to become rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who keep on loving him, has he not?

What good does it do, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but does not prove it with actions? This kind of faith cannot save him, can it?

and one of you tells them, "Go in peace! Stay warm and eat heartily." If you do not provide for their bodily needs, what good does it do?

You believe that there is one God. That's fine! Even the demons believe that and tremble with fear.

And so the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." And so he was called God's friend.

With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in God's likeness.

However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds, and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.

You want something but do not get it, so you commit murder. You covet something but cannot obtain it, so you quarrel and fight. You do not get things because you do not ask for them!

You ask for something but do not get it because you ask for it for the wrong reason for your own pleasure.

You adulterers! Don't you know that friendship with the world means hostility with God? So whoever wants to be a friend of this world is an enemy of God.

Or do you think the Scripture means nothing when it says that the Spirit that God caused to live in us jealously yearns for us?

But he gives all the more grace. And so he says, "God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the humble."

Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.

Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.