So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. | In the same way, faith by itself is dead if it does not have works. |
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! | You believe that there is one God. You do well to assert that. But even the demons believe and tremble. |
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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 fall short in many ways. Anyone who never makes a mistake in speech has reached perfection and is able to control every part of his body. |
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. | Out of the same mouth flow blessings and curses. This should not be so, my brethren. |
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. | Who among you is wise and understanding? Prove by your good life that your works are done with the humility that comes from wisdom. |
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 disharmony and every type of wickedness. |
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. | However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, and considerate, full of mercy and good fruits, without any trace of partiality or hypocrisy. |
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. | And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who are peacemakers. |
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 that you cannot have, so you commit murder. And you covet something but cannot obtain it, so you engage in quarrels and fights. You do not have because you do not ask. |
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. | Adulterers! Do you not know that love of the world results in enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God. |
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. | Hence, be subject to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from 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 waverers. |
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. | Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. |
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 only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save or to destroy. Who then are you to pass judgment on a neighbor? |
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. | Above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth, or use any oaths at all. Let your “Yes” mean “Yes” and your “No” mean “No.” Otherwise you may be condemned. |
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. | Is anyone among you sick? He should send for the presbyters of the Church so that they may pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. |
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 a righteous man is powerful and effective. |
For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. | For you know that the testing of your faith will develop perseverance. |
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. | If someone among you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without finding fault, and it will be given to him. |
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 he is to ask with faith, without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. |
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. | The brother who is in modest circumstances should take pride in being raised up. Likewise, the one who is rich should glory in being brought low, for he will disappear like a flower of the field. |
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. | Blessed is the man who perseveres when he is tempted, for when he has been proven, he will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. |
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. | While experiencing temptation, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. |
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 good act of giving and every perfect gift are from above, coming down from the Father of all light. With him there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. |
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. | By his own choice he gave us birth through the way of truth so that we may be a kind of firstfruits of all his creation. |