My brothers, when you are beset by various temptations, count it all joy,

But let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, not lacking in anything.

If any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him ask it from the God who gives to all men freely and without upbraiding; and it will be given to him.

When he is being tempted, let no one say, "It is God who tempts me," for God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man.

But each man is tempted by his own lusts that allure and entice him.

Do not be deceived, my brothers!

Because he willed, he gave us birth through the word of truth, so that we should be a kind of first-fruits among his creatures.

Mark this well, my dear brothers. Let every man be swift in hearing, slow in speaking, slow in growing angry;

But the man who looks closely into the perfect law??he law of liberty??nd continues looking, this man will be blessed in his deed because he is not a hearer who forgets, but a doer who does.

If a man thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own religion,

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

Are they not blaspheming that glorious Name by which you are called?

If you have the spirit of caste you are committing sin, and are convicted by the Law as transgressors.

So speak and act like men who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

If a brother or sister be naked and in need of daily food,

In just the same way faith, if it have not deeds, is by itself a lifeless thing.

Some one indeed may say, "You have faith, and I have deeds." "Then show me your faith," I answer, "apart from any deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."

But do you want to be convinced, O foolish man, that faith apart from deeds is barren?

Was not Abraham our ancestor justified by deeds, in that he offered up Isaac, his son, upon the altar?

You see how faith was cooperating with deeds, and faith was made perfect by deeds.

You see, then, that it is by his deeds a man is justified, and not simply by his faith.

In like manner was not Rahab, the harlot, justified by her deeds, in the fact that she received the messengers and sent them forth by another way?

Do not become many teachers, my brothers, because you know well that we teachers shall be judged by a severer standard than others.

Look at the ships too, though they are so large, even when driven by fierce winds they are turned by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the helmsman wills.

So also the tongue is a small member and makes great boasts. Behold, how great a forest is set on fire by a little spark!

And the tongue is a fire; it is a very world of iniquity among our members, defiling the whole body, and setting on fire the wheel of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.

For while every kind of beast and bird, and of reptiles and sea-creatures are tamable, and actually have been tamed by mankind,

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

Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him show his deeds by his good life, in the meekness of wisdom.

But if you have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, do not be boasting of that, and be false to the truth.

And the fruit of righteousness is being sown in peace by those who are working peace.

You adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity to God? Whoever, then, desires to be a friend of the world, makes himself and enemy of God.

So then ever be subject to God, Ever resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Lament and mourn, and weep aloud! Let your laughter be turned into mourning, And your joy into gloom!

Do not be talking against each other, brothers. He who is talking against a brother and condemning his brothers is talking against the Law and condemning the Law. But if you are condemning the Law, you are not a doer of the Law, but a judge.

But One is your Lawgiver and Judge??e who is able to save and to destroy. But you, who are you, to be condemning your neighbor?

Your gold and silver are rusted. and their rust will be for a testimony against you, and it will eat your flesh. For you have been storing up fire in these last days!

Look! the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you have been keeping back by fraud, are crying aloud! And the cries of the reapers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth!

Be patient, then, brothers, till the coming of the Lord. Behold the farmer who waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it gets the early and the latter rains.

So you also must be patient. Stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord is at hand!

Do not make complaints against each other, brothers, lest you yourselves be condemned. Behold the Judge is standing before the very door!

Again, above all things, my brothers, swear not at all, neither by the heavens, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath. Let your "yes" be "yes," and your "no," "no," so you will not fall under condemnation.

and the prayer of faith will restore the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him.

So confess your sins one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. For the fervent prayer of a righteous man is mighty in its working.