[This letter is from] James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, [who sends] greetings to the twelve tribes which are scattered throughout the world. [Note: This refers to Christians, probably of Jewish descent].

My Brothers, whatever may be the temptations that beset you from time to time, always regard them as a reason for rejoicing,

And if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God who gives to all generously and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

For that man should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord,

(1:7) unreliable in every step he takes, must not expect to get anything from the Lord.

And the wealthy person [should be happy] that he is humbled [by God], because he will pass away like a flower [blossoming] from grass.

No one must say, when he is tempted to do evil, "I have a temptation from God to do evil," for God cannot be tempted to do evil, and He never tempts anyone to do so.

And each is tempted from his own lust, being drawn out, and decoyed.

Do not be turned from the right way, dear brothers.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.

Therefore, you should put away [from you] all moral filth and overflowing wickedness and humbly receive the word [of God], planted within you [by the Holy Spirit. See John 16:8], which is capable of saving your souls.

Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

then are ye not partial among yourselves, and become judges from evil thoughts?

For he who said, "You must not commit adultery," said also, "You must not commit murder." Now if you abstain from adultery, but commit murder, you are still a violator of the Law.

And one from among you should say unto them - Withdraw in peace, be getting warmed and fed, but should not give them the things needful for the body, What the profit?

Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?

Was not Abraham our father made righteous from works, having offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?

Thou see that faith was working with his works, and from the works, faith was fully perfected.

Ye see therefore that from works a man is made righteous, and not from faith only.

And likewise also was not Rahab the harlot made righteous from works, having received the agents, and having sent them out another way?

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

And the tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell.

From out of the same mouth pour forth blessings and cursings! My brothers, this ought not to be so.

Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter?

Is a fig-tree able to give us olives, my brothers, or do we get figs from a vine, or sweet water from the salt sea?

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show from his good behavior his works in mildness of wisdom.

This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.

The harvest of uprightness is grown from the seed of peace by those who are peacemakers.

From where are wars and fightings among you? Is it not from here: from your pleasures warring in your body-parts?

[When] you do ask, you do not receive it, because you ask from wrong motives, [just] so you can satisfy your own pleasures.

Do you suppose there is no meaning in the passage of Scripture which asks--'Is envy to result from the longings of the Spirit which God has implanted within you?'

Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Make your hands clean, you evil-doers; put away deceit from your hearts, you false in mind.

See, the wages that you have kept back from the laborers who reaped your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

So be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer keeps on waiting and waiting for the precious crop from his land; how he keeps up his patience over it until he gets the early and late rains,

Stop muttering against one another, brothers, so as to keep from being judged yourselves. Look! The Judge is standing at the very door.

My brethren, take a pattern for suffering affliction, and patience from the prophets, who have spoken to you in the name of the Lord.

Behold, we consider blessed those who have endured. You have heard about the patient endurance of Job, and you saw the outcome from the Lord, that the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Above all, my brothers, stop swearing, either by heaven or by the earth, or by anything else. Let your "Yes" mean Yes, and your "No," No, so as to keep from falling under condemnation.

the prayer that proceeds from faith, shall save the sick; the Lord will raise him up, and his sins that may have been the occasion, shall be forgiven.

So, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another to be healed [from sin sickness]. The special request of a righteous person is empowered with [great] effectiveness.

My brethren, if any among you err from the truth, and one convert him;

let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.