Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. | Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. |
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. | So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. |
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For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. | Because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. |
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. |
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. | And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. |
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. | Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. |
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! | You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. |
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. | For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. |
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. | From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. |
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. | You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. |
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? | There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor? |
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. | 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. |
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. | If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. |
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. | Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. |
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. | Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. |
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. | 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. |
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. | If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. |
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. | But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. |
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. | 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. |
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. | 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. |
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. | 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. |
Every good gift and 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 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. |
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. | 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. |
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. | 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. |
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. | Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. |