English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
22
Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
23
Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror,
24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
24
walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.
25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
25
But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God - the free life! - even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
26
Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
27
Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.