New International Version NIV
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
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James, of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ a servant, to the Twelve Tribes who are in the dispersion: Hail!
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
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All joy count [it], my brethren, when ye may fall into temptations manifold;
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
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knowing that the proof of your faith doth work endurance,
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
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and let the endurance have a perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire -- in nothing lacking;
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
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and if any of you do lack wisdom, let him ask from God, who is giving to all liberally, and not reproaching, and it shall be given to him;
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
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and let him ask in faith, nothing doubting, for he who is doubting hath been like a wave of the sea, driven by wind and tossed,
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
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for let not that man suppose that he shall receive anything from the Lord --
8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
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a two-souled man [is] unstable in all his ways.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
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And let the brother who is low rejoice in his exaltation,
10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
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and the rich in his becoming low, because as a flower of grass he shall pass away;
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
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for the sun did rise with the burning heat, and did wither the grass, and the flower of it fell, and the grace of its appearance did perish, so also the rich in his way shall fade away!
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
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Happy the man who doth endure temptation, because, becoming approved, he shall receive the crown of the life, which the Lord did promise to those loving Him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
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Let no one say, being tempted -- `From God I am tempted,' for God is not tempted of evil, and Himself doth tempt no one,
14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
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and each one is tempted, by his own desires being led away and enticed,
15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
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afterward the desire having conceived, doth give birth to sin, and the sin having been perfected, doth bring forth death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.
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Be not led astray, my brethren beloved;
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
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every good giving, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom is no variation, or shadow of turning;
18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
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having counselled, He did beget us with a word of truth, for our being a certain first-fruit of His creatures.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
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So then, my brethren beloved, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,
20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
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for the wrath of a man the righteousness of God doth not work;
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
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wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls;
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
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and become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
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because, if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one hath been like to a man viewing his natural face in a mirror,
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
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for he did view himself, and hath gone away, and immediately he did forget of what kind he was;
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
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and he who did look into the perfect law -- that of liberty, and did continue there, this one -- not a forgetful hearer becoming, but a doer of work -- this one shall be happy in his doing.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
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If any one doth think to be religious among you, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, of this one vain [is] the religion;
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
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religion pure and undefiled with the God and Father is this, to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation -- unspotted to keep himself from the world.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.