Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow. |
Because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. | Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. |
|
If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. | But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. |
But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. | But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. |
Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. | Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. |
Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. | Blessed is a person who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to those who love him. |
No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. | Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. |
In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. | Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. |
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. | So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. |
Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. | Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. |
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. | But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. |
But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. | 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 any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. | If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless. |
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. | 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. |
So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. | Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. |
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. | You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder. |
For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. | For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also. |
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. | Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. |
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. | Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. |
For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. | For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. |
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. | But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. |
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. | Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. |
You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. | You lust, and don’t have. You murder and covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask. |
Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. | You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. |
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. | Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. |