You must find the greatest joy, my brothers, in being involved in various trials,

and steadfastness must have full play, so that you may be fully and perfectly developed without any defects.

Do not be misled, my dear brothers.

You must understand this, my dear brothers. Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to be angry,

My brothers, do you try to combine faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with acts of partiality?

and you pay attention to the man in the fine clothes and say to him, "Sit here; this is a good place!" and say to the poor man, "Stand up, or sit on the floor at my feet,"

Listen, my dear brothers. Has not God chosen the world's poor to be rich in faith, and to possess the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

My brothers, what is the good of a man's saying he has faith, if he has no good deeds to show? Can faith save him?

But someone may say, "You have faith, and I good deeds." Show me your faith without any good deeds, and I will show you my faith by my good deeds.

But do you want proof, my senseless friend, that faith without good deeds amounts to nothing?

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Blessing and cursing issue from the same mouth! This is not right, my brothers.

Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grape vine figs? A salt spring cannot give fresh water.

Above all, my brothers, do not swear an oath, either by heaven or by the earth, or by anything else; let your "Yes" be a plain Yes, and your "No" a plain No, or you will fall under condemnation.

So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be cured. An upright man can do a great deal by prayer when he tries.

My brothers, if any one of you is led astray from the truth, and someone brings him back,

you may be sure that whoever brings a sinner back from his misguided way will save the man's soul from death, and cover up a host of sins.