English Standard Version ESV
New King James Version NKJV
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
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James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
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My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
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knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
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But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
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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.
6 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.
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But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
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For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
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he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
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Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,
10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
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but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
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For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
12 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.
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Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 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.
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Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
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But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
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Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
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Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 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.
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Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
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Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
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So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
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for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
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Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
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But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
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.
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For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
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for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
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.
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But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
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If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.
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.
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Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.