[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].

Consider the various tryals that surround you, my brethren, as matter of great joy; knowing this,

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let this power have its full effect, so that you may be made complete, needing nothing.

Make no mistake about this, my beloved brothers:

This you know, my beloved brothers. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

For this reason, putting away all dirty behaviour and the overweight of evil, take into your souls without pride the word which, being planted there, is able to give you salvation.

Keep on obeying this message; do not merely listen to it, and so deceive yourselves.

because, if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one hath been like to a man viewing his natural face in a mirror,

But he who looks into the perfect Law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious while he does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.

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

And you do honour to the man in fair clothing and say, Come here and take this good place; and you say to the poor man, Take up your position there, or be seated at my feet;

Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

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 says to them, Go in peace, be warm and full of food; but you do not give them the things of which their bodies have need, what profit is there in this?

You believe that God is one, and you are quite right: evil spirits also believe this, and shudder."

And the Scripture was fulfilled which said, And Abraham believed God, and this was imputed to him as righteousness, and he was called God's friend.

for we all make many stumbles; if any one in word doth not stumble, this one is a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body;

By this we bless God, even the Father. And by this we curse men, who have come into being according to the image of God.

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

But if you have bitter envy in your heart and the desire to get the better of others, have no pride in this, talking falsely against what is true.

This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

From where [are] conflicts and from where [are] quarrels among you? [Is it] not from this, from your pleasures that wage war among your members?

O you who are false to God, do you not see that the friends of this world are not God's friends? Every man desiring to be a friend of this world makes himself a hater of God.

What, do you consider this is an idle word of scripture? ??'He yearns jealously for the spirit he set within us.')

But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].”

For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you.

Come close to God and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinful people [i.e., this is an exhortation to repent of moral and spiritual corruption], and purify your hearts, you double-minded people.

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow let us go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit."

For you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that."

Whereas, now, are ye boasting in your pretensions: - All boasting like this, is, wicked,

[So], you people should be patient also; strengthen your hearts because the Lord's coming is near [Note: This may refer to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, or to Christ's final coming and judgment].

And if their prayer is [offered] by faith, [God] will heal the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up [from his sickbed]. And if he had sinned, he will be forgiven for them [Note: This may imply that the man's sickness was the result of some sin. In any event, his forgiveness would follow his repentance].