On the earth you have lived luxuriously and abandoned yourselves to soft living and led a life of wanton pleasure [self-indulgence, self-gratification]; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

A religious observance that is pure and stainless in the sight of God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their trouble, and keep one's self unstained by the world.

That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic.

Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly].

But as it is, you boast [vainly] in your pretension and arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

if you should respectfully say to the suit of fine cloths, sit you there, that's for quality; and to the poor man, stand thou there, or place your self at my feet:

If, agreeably to the scriptures, you observe that royal law, "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self," you do well.

The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceful, courteous, not self-willed, full of compassion and kind actions, free from favouritism and from all insincerity.

If anyone considers himself to be religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, this person is self-deceived and his religion is worthless.

For in many things we all stumble. If anyone does not stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?

With it we bless God even the Farther; and with the same we curse men, though after the likeness of God.

For he who said, Do not be untrue in married life, is the same who said, Put no man to death. Now if you are not untrue in married life, but you put a man to death, the law is broken.

You have the belief that God is one, and you do well: the evil spirits have the same belief, shaking with fear.

And in the same way, was not the righteousness of Rahab, the loose woman, judged by her works, when she took into her house those who were sent and let them go out by another way?

and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, find warmth and food for yourselves," but at the same time you do not give the necessaries of the body, what good would that do them?

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

but whoso looketh in the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein - if he be not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work - the same shall be happy in his deed.

let the same know, that he which converted the sinner from going astray out of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide the multitude of sins. {Here ends the General Epistle of James}