James
CHAPTER1
1James,aservantofGodandoftheLordJesusChrist,to thetwelvetribeswhicharescatteredabroad,greeting.
2Mybrethren,countitalljoywhenyefallintodivers temptations;
3Knowingthis,thatthetryingofyourfaithworketh patience
4Butletpatiencehaveherperfectwork,thatyemaybe perfectandentire,wantingnothing
5Ifanyofyoulackwisdom,lethimaskofGod,that givethtoallmenliberally,andupbraidethnot;anditshall begivenhim
6Butlethimaskinfaith,nothingwaveringForhethat waverethislikeawaveoftheseadrivenwiththewindand tossed
7Forletnotthatmanthinkthatheshallreceiveanything oftheLord.
8Adoublemindedmanisunstableinallhisways
9Letthebrotheroflowdegreerejoiceinthatheisexalted:
10Buttherich,inthatheismadelow:becauseasthe flowerofthegrassheshallpassaway
11Forthesunisnosoonerrisenwithaburningheat,butit withereththegrass,andtheflowerthereoffalleth,andthe graceofthefashionofitperisheth:soalsoshalltherich manfadeawayinhisways
12Blessedisthemanthatendurethtemptation:forwhen heistried,heshallreceivethecrownoflife,whichthe Lordhathpromisedtothemthatlovehim
13Letnomansaywhenheistempted,Iamtemptedof God:forGodcannotbetemptedwithevil,neithertempteth heanyman:
14Buteverymanistempted,whenheisdrawnawayof hisownlust,andenticed
15Thenwhenlusthathconceived,itbringethforthsin: andsin,whenitisfinished,bringethforthdeath.
16Donoterr,mybelovedbrethren
17Everygoodgiftandeveryperfectgiftisfromabove, andcomethdownfromtheFatheroflights,withwhomis novariableness,neithershadowofturning
18Ofhisownwillbegatheuswiththewordoftruth,that weshouldbeakindoffirstfruitsofhiscreatures
19Wherefore,mybelovedbrethren,leteverymanbeswift tohear,slowtospeak,slowtowrath:
20Forthewrathofmanworkethnottherighteousnessof God
21Whereforelayapartallfilthinessandsuperfluityof naughtiness,andreceivewithmeeknesstheengraftedword, whichisabletosaveyoursouls
22Butbeyedoersoftheword,andnothearersonly, deceivingyourownselves
23Forifanybeaheareroftheword,andnotadoer,heis likeuntoamanbeholdinghisnaturalfaceinaglass:
24Forhebeholdethhimself,andgoethhisway,and straightwayforgettethwhatmannerofmanhewas
25Butwhosolookethintotheperfectlawofliberty,and continueththerein,hebeingnotaforgetfulhearer,buta doerofthework,thismanshallbeblessedinhisdeed
26Ifanymanamongyouseemtobereligious,andbridleth nothistongue,butdeceivethhisownheart,thisman's religionisvain.
27PurereligionandundefiledbeforeGodandtheFatheris this,Tovisitthefatherlessandwidowsintheiraffliction, andtokeephimselfunspottedfromtheworld.
CHAPTER2
1Mybrethren,havenotthefaithofourLordJesusChrist, theLordofglory,withrespectofpersons
2Foriftherecomeuntoyourassemblyamanwithagold ring,ingoodlyapparel,andtherecomeinalsoapoorman invileraiment;
3Andyehaverespecttohimthatweareththegayclothing, andsayuntohim,Sitthouhereinagoodplace;andsayto thepoor,Standthouthere,orsithereundermyfootstool: 4Areyenotthenpartialinyourselves,andarebecome judgesofevilthoughts?
5Hearken,mybelovedbrethren,HathnotGodchosenthe poorofthisworldrichinfaith,andheirsofthekingdom whichhehathpromisedtothemthatlovehim?
6Butyehavedespisedthepoor.Donotrichmenoppress you,anddrawyoubeforethejudgmentseats?
7Donottheyblasphemethatworthynamebythewhichye arecalled?
8Ifyefulfiltheroyallawaccordingtothescripture,Thou shaltlovethyneighbourasthyself,yedowell:
9Butifyehaverespecttopersons,yecommitsin,andare convincedofthelawastransgressors
10Forwhosoevershallkeepthewholelaw,andyetoffend inonepoint,heisguiltyofall.
11Forhethatsaid,Donotcommitadultery,saidalso,Do notkillNowifthoucommitnoadultery,yetifthoukill, thouartbecomeatransgressorofthelaw.
12Sospeakye,andsodo,astheythatshallbejudgedby thelawofliberty
13Forheshallhavejudgmentwithoutmercy,thathath shewednomercy;andmercyrejoicethagainstjudgment 14Whatdothitprofit,mybrethren,thoughamansayhe hathfaith,andhavenotworks?canfaithsavehim?
15Ifabrotherorsisterbenaked,anddestituteofdaily food,
16Andoneofyousayuntothem,Departinpeace,beye warmedandfilled;notwithstandingyegivethemnotthose thingswhichareneedfultothebody;whatdothitprofit?
17Evensofaith,ifithathnotworks,isdead,beingalone.
18Yea,amanmaysay,Thouhastfaith,andIhaveworks: shewmethyfaithwithoutthyworks,andIwillshewthee myfaithbymyworks.
19ThoubelievestthatthereisoneGod;thoudoestwell: thedevilsalsobelieve,andtremble
20Butwiltthouknow,Ovainman,thatfaithwithout worksisdead?
21WasnotAbrahamourfatherjustifiedbyworks,when hehadofferedIsaachissonuponthealtar?
22Seestthouhowfaithwroughtwithhisworks,andby workswasfaithmadeperfect?
23Andthescripturewasfulfilledwhichsaith,Abraham believedGod,anditwasimputeduntohimfor righteousness:andhewascalledtheFriendofGod 24Yeseethenhowthatbyworksamanisjustified,and notbyfaithonly
25LikewisealsowasnotRahabtheharlotjustifiedby works,whenshehadreceivedthemessengers,andhadsent themoutanotherway?
26Forasthebodywithoutthespiritisdead,sofaith withoutworksisdeadalso.
CHAPTER3
1Mybrethren,benotmanymasters,knowingthatweshall receivethegreatercondemnation
2ForinmanythingsweoffendallIfanymanoffendnot inword,thesameisaperfectman,andablealsotobridle thewholebody.
3Behold,weputbitsinthehorses'mouths,thattheymay obeyus;andweturnabouttheirwholebody
4Beholdalsotheships,whichthoughtheybesogreat,and aredrivenoffiercewinds,yetaretheyturnedaboutwitha verysmallhelm,whithersoeverthegovernorlisteth
5Evensothetongueisalittlemember,andboastethgreat thingsBehold,howgreatamatteralittlefirekindleth!
6Andthetongueisafire,aworldofiniquity:soisthe tongueamongourmembers,thatitdefileththewholebody, andsettethonfirethecourseofnature;anditissetonfire ofhell
7Foreverykindofbeasts,andofbirds,andofserpents, andofthingsinthesea,istamed,andhathbeentamedof mankind:
8Butthetonguecannomantame;itisanunrulyevil,full ofdeadlypoison
9TherewithblessweGod,eventheFather;andtherewith cursewemen,whicharemadeafterthesimilitudeofGod.
10Outofthesamemouthproceedethblessingandcursing Mybrethren,thesethingsoughtnotsotobe
11Dothafountainsendforthatthesameplacesweetwater andbitter?
12Canthefigtree,mybrethren,bearoliveberries?eithera vine,figs?socannofountainbothyieldsaltwaterand fresh
13Whoisawisemanandenduedwithknowledgeamong you?lethimshewoutofagoodconversationhisworks withmeeknessofwisdom
14Butifyehavebitterenvyingandstrifeinyourhearts, glorynot,andlienotagainstthetruth.
15Thiswisdomdescendethnotfromabove,butisearthly, sensual,devilish
16Forwhereenvyingandstrifeis,thereisconfusionand everyevilwork
17Butthewisdomthatisfromaboveisfirstpure,then peaceable,gentle,andeasytobeintreated,fullofmercy andgoodfruits,withoutpartiality,andwithouthypocrisy
18Andthefruitofrighteousnessissowninpeaceofthem thatmakepeace.
CHAPTER4
1Fromwhencecomewarsandfightingsamongyou?come theynothence,evenofyourluststhatwarinyour members?
2Yelust,andhavenot:yekill,anddesiretohave,and cannotobtain:yefightandwar,yetyehavenot,becauseye asknot
3Yeask,andreceivenot,becauseyeaskamiss,thatye mayconsumeituponyourlusts.
4Yeadulterersandadulteresses,knowyenotthatthe friendshipoftheworldisenmitywithGod?whosoever thereforewillbeafriendoftheworldistheenemyofGod. 5Doyethinkthatthescripturesaithinvain,Thespiritthat dwellethinuslustethtoenvy?
6Buthegivethmoregrace.Whereforehesaith,God resisteththeproud,butgivethgraceuntothehumble
7SubmityourselvesthereforetoGodResistthedevil,and hewillfleefromyou
8DrawnightoGod,andhewilldrawnightoyouCleanse yourhands,yesinners;andpurifyyourhearts,yedouble minded
9Beafflicted,andmourn,andweep:letyourlaughterbe turnedtomourning,andyourjoytoheaviness.
10HumbleyourselvesinthesightoftheLord,andheshall liftyouup
11Speaknoteviloneofanother,brethren.Hethat speakethevilofhisbrother,andjudgethhisbrother, speakethevilofthelaw,andjudgeththelaw:butifthou judgethelaw,thouartnotadoerofthelaw,butajudge.
12Thereisonelawgiver,whoisabletosaveandto destroy:whoartthouthatjudgestanother?
13Gotonow,yethatsay,Todayortomorrowwewillgo intosuchacity,andcontinuethereayear,andbuyandsell, andgetgain:
14Whereasyeknownotwhatshallbeonthemorrow.For whatisyourlife?Itisevenavapour,thatappearethfora littletime,andthenvanishethaway
15Forthatyeoughttosay,IftheLordwill,weshalllive, anddothis,orthat
16Butnowyerejoiceinyourboastings:allsuchrejoicing isevil.
17Thereforetohimthatknowethtodogood,anddoethit not,tohimitissin
CHAPTER5
1Gotonow,yerichmen,weepandhowlforyourmiseries thatshallcomeuponyou
2Yourrichesarecorrupted,andyourgarmentsare motheaten.
3Yourgoldandsilveriscankered;andtherustofthem shallbeawitnessagainstyou,andshalleatyourfleshasit werefire.Yehaveheapedtreasuretogetherforthelast days
4Behold,thehireofthelabourerswhohavereapeddown yourfields,whichisofyoukeptbackbyfraud,crieth:and thecriesofthemwhichhavereapedareenteredintothe earsoftheLordofsabaoth
5Yehavelivedinpleasureontheearth,andbeenwanton; yehavenourishedyourhearts,asinadayofslaughter
6Yehavecondemnedandkilledthejust;andhedothnot resistyou
7Bepatienttherefore,brethren,untothecomingofthe Lord.Behold,thehusbandmanwaitethfortheprecious fruitoftheearth,andhathlongpatienceforit,untilhe receivetheearlyandlatterrain
8Beyealsopatient;stablishyourhearts:forthecomingof theLorddrawethnigh
9Grudgenotoneagainstanother,brethren,lestyebe condemned:behold,thejudgestandethbeforethedoor.
10Take,mybrethren,theprophets,whohavespokenin thenameoftheLord,foranexampleofsufferingaffliction, andofpatience.
11Behold,wecountthemhappywhichendureYehave heardofthepatienceofJob,andhaveseentheendofthe Lord;thattheLordisverypitiful,andoftendermercy.
12Butaboveallthings,mybrethren,swearnot,neitherby heaven,neitherbytheearth,neitherbyanyotheroath:but letyouryeabeyea;andyournay,nay;lestyefallinto condemnation
13Isanyamongyouafflicted?lethimpray.Isanymerry? lethimsingpsalms
14Isanysickamongyou?lethimcallfortheeldersofthe church;andletthemprayoverhim,anointinghimwithoil inthenameoftheLord:
15Andtheprayeroffaithshallsavethesick,andtheLord shallraisehimup;andifhehavecommittedsins,they shallbeforgivenhim
16Confessyourfaultsonetoanother,andprayonefor another,thatyemaybehealed.Theeffectualferventprayer ofarighteousmanavailethmuch
17Eliaswasamansubjecttolikepassionsasweare,and heprayedearnestlythatitmightnotrain:anditrainednot ontheearthbythespaceofthreeyearsandsixmonths
18Andheprayedagain,andtheheavengaverain,andthe earthbroughtforthherfruit.
19Brethren,ifanyofyoudoerrfromthetruth,andone converthim;
20Lethimknow,thathewhichconverteththesinnerfrom theerrorofhiswayshallsaveasoulfromdeath,andshall hideamultitudeofsins