James, of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ a servant, to the Twelve Tribes who are in the dispersion: Hail!

But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by wind and tossed about.

Such a man must not expect to get anything from the Lord??8 an irresolute person like him, who is uncertain about everything he does.

And let the brother who is low rejoice in his exaltation,

but the one who is rich should boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

Blessed is a man who endures temptation, because, having become approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love 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.

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.

who hath of his own will begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.

Because if anyone merely listens to the message without obeying it, he is like a man who looks in a mirror at his own face,

who beheld himself, and went away, and immediately forgot what manner of man he was.

But he who stooped to look into the perfect law, the one of liberty, and who remained, this man, who did not become a forgetful hearer but a doer of work, this man will be blessed in his doing.

The religion which is holy and free from evil in the eyes of our God and Father is this: to take care of children who have no fathers and of widows who are in trouble, and to keep oneself untouched by the world.

My brethren, you must not make distinctions between one man and another while you are striving to maintain faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our glory.

For if a man comes into your meeting place wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in,

and you pay special attention to the man who wears the fine clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in this fine place," and say to the poor man, "Stand up, or sit there on the floor at my feet,"

Listen, my beloved brothers, did not God choose the poor of the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he promised to those who love him?

But you, in contrast, have humiliated the poor man. Are not the rich men those who oppress you and drag you to court?

Are not they the ones who scoff at the beautiful name you bear?

For anyone who keeps all the law, but makes a slip in one point, is judged to have gone against it all.

For he who said thou shall not commit adultery, also said thou shall not murder. Now if thou will not commit adultery, but murder, thou have become a transgressor of law.

So speak ye, and so do ye, as men who are to be judged by a law of liberty.

For the judgment is merciless to him who did no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

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?

My brethren, don't affect many of you to be doctors, considering, that those of us who are such, shall be tried with the greater severity.

for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.

Behold also the ships, being so great and driven by fierce winds, are guided about by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the man who steers determines.

but who could ever tame the tongue? arm'd with deadly poison, the mischief scorns restraint.

Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:

Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace to those who make peace.

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.

Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy?

But he gives more grace. So that the Writings say, God is against the men of pride, but he gives grace to those who make themselves low before him.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you who are half-hearted towards God.

Speak not against each other, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against law and judges law. But if thou judge law, thou are not a doer of law, but a judge.

One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor?

Go now, men who say, Today and tomorrow we will go into this city, and will operate one year there, and will engage in trade and will get gain--

men who know not of the morrow. For what is your life? For it will be a vapor that appears for a little while, and then also vanishes away--

He therefore who knows to do good, and is not doing it, to him it is sin.

Behold, the hire of the laborers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

Ye have condemned, ye have murdered the just one, who resisted you not.

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.

Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord.

Behold, we regard those who endured, blessed. Ye have heard of the fortitude of Job, and have seen the outcome of Lord, that he is very compassionate and merciful.

Is there anyone among you who is suffering? [If so], he should pray. Is anyone happy? [Then] he should sing a psalm.

And the prayer of faith will rescue him who is depressed, and the Lord will rouse him. And if he should be a man who has committed sins, they will be forgiven 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.