But strong meat belongeth to them that are perfect, which through custom have their wits exercised, to judge both good and evil also.

Wherefore, let us leave the doctrine pertaining to the beginning of a Christian man, and let us go unto perfection, and now no more lay the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

And so will we do, if God permit.

and have tasted of the good word of God, and of the power of the world to come;

if they fall away, should be renewed again unto repentance: Forasmuch as they have, as concerning themselves, crucified the son of God afresh, making a mock of him.

For that earth which drinketh in the rain which cometh often upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them that dress it, receiveth blessing of God:

For God is not unrighteous that he should forget your work and labour that proceedeth of love, which love showed in his name, which have ministered unto the saints, and yet minister.

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he had no greater thing to swear by, he sware by himself,

So God, willing very abundantly to show, unto the heirs of promise, the stableness of his counsel; he added an oath,

that by two immutable things - in which it was impossible that God should lie - we might have perfect consolation, which have fled, for to hold fast the hope that is set before us:

This Melchizedek, king of Salem - which being priest of the most high God, met Abraham, as he returned again from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him:

without father, without mother, without kin, and hath neither beginning of his time, neither yet end of his life: but is likened unto the son of God, and continueth a priest forever.

For the law made no thing perfect: but was an introduction of a better hope, by which hope, we draw nigh unto God.

Wherefore he is able also ever to save them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth, to make intercession for us.

and is a minister of holy things, and of the very tabernacle which God pitched, and not man.

which priests serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things: even as the answer of God was given unto Moses when he was about to finish the tabernacle: "For take heed," said he, "that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount."

For this is the testament that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws in their minds, and in their hearts, I will write them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

That first tabernacle verily had ordinances and servings of God, and worldly holiness.

When these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle and executed the service of God:

But Christ being a high priest of good things to come, came by a greater, and a more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands: that is to say, not of this manner building,

How much more shall the blood of Christ - which through the eternal spirit, offered himself without spot to God - purge your consciences from dead works, for to serve the living God?

saying, "This is the blood of the testament, which God hath appointed unto you."

For Christ is not entered into the holy places, that are made with hands, which are but similitudes of true things: but is entered into very heaven, for to appear now in the sight of God for us.

For the law - which hath but the shadow of good things to come, and not the things in their own fashion - can never with the sacrifices which they offer year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Then I said, 'Lo I come.' In the chiefest of the book it is written of me, that I should do thy will, o God."

And then he said, "Lo I am come to do thy will o God." He taketh away the first to establish the latter.

but this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, sat him down for ever on the righthand of God,

And seeing also that we have a high priest which is ruler over the house of God,

and let us consider one another to provoke unto love, and to good works:

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be counted worthy, which treadeth underfoot the son of God: and counteth the blood of the testament as an unholy thing, wherewith he was sanctified, and doth dishonour to the spirit of grace.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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

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.

For he looked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.

And therefore sprang thereof one - and of one which was as good as dead - so many in multitude, as the stars of the sky, and as the sand of the sea shore which is innumerable.

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.

and chose rather to suffer adversity with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season,

were stoned, were hewn asunder, were tempted, were slain with swords, walked up and down in sheep skins, in goat skins, in need, tribulation, and vexation,

And these all, through faith, obtained good report, and received not the promise;

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

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.

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

No manner chastising for the present time seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousness unto them which are therein exercised.

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:

But ye are come unto the mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the celestial Jerusalem: and to an innumerable sight of angels,

and unto the congregation of the first born sons, which are written in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of just and perfect men:

Wherefore if we receive a kingdom which is not moved, we have grace, whereby we may serve God and please him with reverence and godly fear.

For our God is a consuming fire.

Let wedlock be had in price in all points, and let the chamber be undefiled: for whore keepers and adulterers God will judge.

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.

Therefore Jesus, to sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

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.

To do good, and to distribute, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Pray for us. We have confidence because we have a good conscience in all things, and desire to live honestly.

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.

James, the servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sendeth greeting to the twelve tribes which are scattered here and there.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, which giveth to all men indifferently and casteth no man in the teeth; and it shall be given 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.

Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above and cometh down from the father of light, with whom is no variableness, neither is he changed unto darkness.

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

Pure devotion, and undefiled before God the father, is this: To visit the friendless, and widows in their adversity, and to keep himself unspotted of the world.

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?

and one of you say unto them, "Depart in peace, God send you warmness and food," notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body: what helpeth it them?

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

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, "Abraham believed God, and it was reputed unto him for righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.

Therewith bless we God the father, and therewith curse we men which are made after the similitude of God.

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.

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.

Submit yourselves to God, and resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purge your hearts ye wavering minded.

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

Elect by the foreknowledge of God the father, through the sanctifying of the spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace be with you, and peace be multiplied.

Blessed be God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which through his abundant mercy begat us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death,

which are kept by the power of God through salvation, which salvation is prepared already to be showed in the last time,

Which, by his means, have believed on God that raised him from death, and glorified him, that your faith and hope might be in God.

for ye are born anew, not of mortal seed, but of immortal seed, by the word of God which liveth, and lasteth forever.

to whom ye come as unto a living stone, disallowed of men, but chosen of God and precious:

and ye, as living stones, are made a spiritual house, and a holy priesthood, for to offer up spiritual sacrifice, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

which in time past were not a people, yet are now the people of God, which were not under mercy: but now have obtained mercy.

and see that ye have honest conversation among the gentiles, that they which backbite you as evil doers, may see your good works and praise God in the day of visitation.

For so is the will of God, that ye put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men:

as free, and not as having the liberty for a cloak of maliciousness: but even as the servants of God.

See that ye honour all men. Love brotherly fellowship, fear God, and honour the King.

Servants obey your masters with all fear, not only if they be good and courteous: but also though they be froward.

For it is thankworthy if a man, for conscience toward God, endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

For what praise is it, if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye take it patiently? But and if when ye do well, ye suffer wrong and take it patiently, then is there thanks with God.

but let the hid man of the heart be uncorrupt, with a meek and a quiet spirit, which spirit is, before God, a thing much set by.

For after this manner in the old time did the holy women which trusted in God tire themselves, and were obedient to their husbands,

If any man long after life, and loveth to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips, that they speak not guile:

Let him eschew evil and do good: let him seek peace, and ensue it.