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The Message Bible MSG
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
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I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello!
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
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Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
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You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
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So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.