Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. | So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. |
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you. | Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. |
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Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. | Because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. |
Be subject 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. |
Now the fruit 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. |
But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. | But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. |
You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder. | You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. |
For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. | For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. |
Out of the same mouth comes 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. |
So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. | You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. |
Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another? | 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 gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits 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. |
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. 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. |
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. | If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. |
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. | 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. |
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. | Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. |
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. | 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 things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also. | 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. |
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. | If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. |
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. | 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. |
Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility 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. |
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. | 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. |
Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |