For if we sin willingly after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins:

He that despiseth Moses' law, dieth without mercy under two or three witnesses.

For we know him that hath said, "Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord." And again, "the Lord shall judge his people."

Call to remembrance the days that are passed in the which, after ye had received light, ye endured a great fight in adversities,

partly while all men wondered and gazed at you for the shame and tribulation that was done unto you, and partly while ye became companions of them which so passed their time.

For ye suffered also with my bonds, and took in worth the spoiling of your goods, and that with gladness, knowing in yourselves how that ye had in heaven a better, and an enduring substance.

For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

For yet a very little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry:

Through faith we understand that the world was ordained, by the word of God: and that things which are seen, were made of things which are not seen.

By faith, Abel offered unto God a more plenteous sacrifice than Cain: by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: by which also he being dead, yet speaketh.

By faith was Enoch translated that he should not see death; neither was he found, for God had taken him away. Before he was taken away, he was reported of that he had pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: For he that cometh to God, must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him.

By faith Noah honoured God, after that he was warned of things which were not seen, and prepared the ark to the saving of his household, through the which ark he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which cometh by faith.

By faith he removed into the land that was promised him, as into a strange country, and dwelt in tabernacles: and so did Isaac, and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

And they all died in faith, and received not the promises: but saw them afar off, and believed them, and saluted them: and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

They that say such things, declare that they seek a country.

Also, if they had been mindful of that country, from whence they came out, they had leisure to have returned again.

But now they desire a better, that is to say a heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, even to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

For he considered that God was able to raise up again from death. Wherefore received he him, for an example of the resurrection.

Through faith he ordained the Easter lamb, and the effusion of blood, lest he that destroyed the first born should touch them.

And the women received their dead raised to life again. Others were racked, and would not be delivered, that they might receive a better resurrection.

God providing a better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Wherefore let us also - seeing that we are compassed with so great a multitude of witnesses - lay away all that presseth down, and the sin that hangeth on us, and let us run with patience, unto the battle that is set before us,

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, which for the joy that was set before him, abode the cross, and despised the shame, and is set down on the righthand of the throne of God.

Consider therefore how that he endured such speaking against him of sinners, lest ye should be wearied and faint in your minds.

For whom the Lord loveth, him he chasteneth: yea, and he scourgeth every son that he receiveth."

If ye shall endure chastening, God offereth himself unto you, as unto sons. What son is that whom the father chasteneth not?

Moreover, seeing we had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: should we not much rather be in subjection unto the father of spiritual gifts that we might live?

And they verily for a few days nurtured us after their own pleasure; but he learneth us unto that which is profitable, that we might receive of his holiness.

and see that ye have straight steps unto your feet, lest any halting turn out of the way: yea, let it rather be healed.

And look to, that no man be destitute of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness spring up and trouble; and thereby many be defiled:

and that there be no fornicator, or unclean person, as Esau, which for one breakfast sold his birthright.

Ye know how that afterward when that he would have inherited the blessing, he was put by, and he found no means to come thereby again: no, though he desired it with tears.

For ye are not come unto the mount that can be touched, and unto burning fire, nor yet to mist and darkness and tempest of weather,

neither unto the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words: which voice they that heard it, wished away, that the communication should not be spoken to them.

For they were not able to abide that which was spoken. If a beast had touched the mountain, it must have been stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

and to Jesus, the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood that speaketh better than the blood of Abel.

See that ye despise not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not which refused him that spake on earth; Much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

No doubt the same that he sayeth, "yet once more," signifieth the removing away of those things which are shaken, as of things which have ended their course: that the things which are not shaken may remain.

Remember them that are in bonds, even as though ye were bound with them. Be mindful of them which are in adversity, as ye which are yet in your bodies.

Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with that ye have already. For he verily said, "I will not fail thee, neither forsake thee."

That we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man doeth unto me."

Remember them which have the oversight of you, which have declared unto you the word of God: consider the conversation of their living, the end of whose conversation see that ye look upon, and follow their faith.

Be not carried about with divers and strange learning. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, and not with meats, which have not profited them that have had their pastime in them.

For by him offer we the sacrifice of praise always to God: that is to say, the fruit of those lips, which confess his name.

Obey them that have the oversight of you, and submit yourselves to them, for they watch for your souls, even as they that must give accounts for them: that they may do it with joy, and not with grief. For that is an unprofitable thing for you.

I desire you therefore somewhat the more abundantly, that ye so do, that I may be restored to you quickly.

The God of peace that brought again from death our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting testament,

make you perfect in all good works, to do his will, working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ: To whom be praise for ever while the world endureth. Amen.

Salute them that have the oversight of you, and all the saints. They of Italy, salute you.

forasmuch as ye know how that the trying of your faith bringeth patience:

and let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and sound, lacking nothing.

But let him ask in faith, and waver not. For he that doubteth is like the waves of the sea, tossed of the wind, and carried with violence.

Neither let that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,

and the rich in that he is made low. For even as the flower of the grass shall he vanish away.

Happy is the man that endureth in temptation, for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Let no man say when he is tempted that he is tempted of God: for God tempteth not unto evil, neither tempteth he any man.

Of his own will begat he us with the word of life, that we should be the first fruits of his creatures.

For the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous before God.

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, all superfluity of maliciousness, and receive with meekness the word that is grafted in you, which is able to save your souls:

And see that ye be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves with sophistry.

For if any hear the word, and do it not, he is like unto a man that beholdeth his bodily face in a glass.

and ye have a respect to him that weareth the gay clothing and say unto him, "Sit thou here in a good place," and say unto the poor, "stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool" -

Hearken, my dear beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, which are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he promised to them that love him?

Do not they speak evil of that good name after which ye be named?

For he that said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," said also, "thou shalt not kill." Though thou shalt do none adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art a transgressor of the law.

So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

For there shall be judgment, merciless, to him that showeth no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Believest thou that there is one God? Thou doest well. The devils also believe and tremble.

Wilt thou understand, o thou vain man, that faith without deeds is dead?

Thou seest how that faith wrought within his deeds, and through the deeds was the faith made perfect.

Ye see, then, how that of deeds a man is justified, and not of faith only.

My brethren, be not every man a master; Remembering how that we shall receive the more damnation.

Behold, we put bits into the horses' mouths that they should obey us, and we turn about all the body.

and the tongue is fire, and a world of wickedness. So is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth afire all that we have of nature, and is itself set afire, even of hell.

If any man be wise and endued with learning among you, let him show the works of his good conversation in meekness that is coupled with wisdom.

but the wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, and without simulation.

Yea, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, of them that maintain peace.

From whence cometh war, and fighting among you? Come they not here hence, even of your voluptuousness that raineth in your members?

Ye adulterers, and women that break matrimony: know ye not how that the friendship of the world is enmity to Godward? Whosoever will be friend of the world, is made the enemy of God.

Either do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, "The spirit that dwelleth in you, lusteth even contrary to envy,"

Backbite not one another, brethren. He that backbiteth his brother, and he that judgeth his brother, backbiteth the law, and judgeth the law: but and if thou judge the law, thou art not an observer of the law: but a judge.

There is one law giver, which is able to save and to destroy. What art thou that judgest another man?

Go to now, ye that say, "Today and tomorrow let us go into such a city and continue there a year and buy, and sell, and win,"

and yet cannot tell what shall happen tomorrow. For what thing is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

For that, ye ought to say, "If the Lord will, and if we live, let us do this or that."

Therefore to him that knoweth how to do good, and doth it not: to him, it is sin.

Go to now, ye rich men. Weep, and howl on your wretchedness that shall come upon you.

Knowledge your faults one to another: and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man availeth much, if it be fervent.

Elijah was a man, mortal even as we are, and he prayed in his prayer, that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

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}

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that dwell here and there as strangers throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia;

to enjoy an inheritance immortal, and undefiled, and that perisheth not; reserved in heaven for you

that your faith, once tried, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto laud, glory, and honour, at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Of which salvation have the prophets enquired, and searched, which prophesied of the grace that should come unto you;

searching when, or at what time, the spirit of Christ which was in them should signify - which spirit testified before - the passions that should come unto Christ, and the glory that should follow after.

Unto which prophets it was declared, that not unto themselves, but unto us, they should minister the things which are now showed unto you, of them which, by the holy ghost sent down from heaven, have preached unto you the things which the angels desire to behold.

Wherefore, gird up the loins of your minds, be sober, and trust perfectly on the grace that is brought unto you by the declaring of Jesus Christ;

And if so be that ye call on the father, which without respect of person judgeth according to every man's works, see that ye pass the time of your pilgrimage in fear: