James 1 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Salutation

1 James, a servant[a] of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Faith and Wisdom

2 My brothers and sisters,[b] whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4 and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 6 But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7, 8 for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Poverty and Riches

9 Let the believer[c] who is lowly boast in being raised up, 10 and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.

Trial and Temptation

12 Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord[d] has promised to those who love him. 13 No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14 But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved.[e]

17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[f] 18 In fulfilment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 You must understand this, my beloved:[g] let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves[h] in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Footnotes

  1. James 1:1 Gk slave
  2. James 1:2 Gk brothers
  3. James 1:9 Gk brother
  4. James 1:12 Gk he; other ancient authorities read God
  5. James 1:16 Gk my beloved brothers
  6. James 1:17 Other ancient authorities read variation due to a shadow of turning
  7. James 1:19 Gk my beloved brothers
  8. James 1:23 Gk at the face of his birth

You Might Also Like:

James 1 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 James, of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ a servant, to the Twelve Tribes who are in the dispersion: Hail! 2 All joy count [it], my brethren, when ye may fall into temptations manifold; 3 knowing that the proof of your faith doth work endurance, 4 and let the endurance have a perfect work, that y...
Read More

James 1 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

1 James, the servant of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve kindreds, that be in scattering abroad, health. 2 My brethren, deem ye all joy [guess ye all joy], when ye fall into diverse temptations, 3 witting, that the proving of your faith worketh patience; 4 and patience hath a perf...
Read More

James 1 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

1 I am James. I am a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I send greetings to all of God's people wherever they live. 2 My brothers, be very happy when you are tested by having troubles of many kinds. 3 You know this, that when you prove you believe, you become stronger to take troubles. 4 B...
Read More

James 1 - World English Bible (WEB)

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you fall into various temptations, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that ...
Read More

James 1 - The Voice (VOICE)

1 James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, to the twelve tribes of Israel who are spread across the earth: I send you my warmest welcome! 2-4 Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace ...
Read More

James 1 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Greetings1 Jacob, a slave of God and of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah,To the twelve tribes in the Diaspora:Shalom! Rejoice in Trials2 Consider it all joy, my brethren,[a] when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perf...
Read More

James 1 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Salutation1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes[a] in the Dispersion:Greeting. Faith and Wisdom2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its...
Read More

James 1 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Salutation1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:Greeting. Faith and Wisdom2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its fu...
Read More

James 1 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into diverse trials, 3 knowing that the trying of your faith brings forth patience. 4 And let patience have her perfect work, so that you ...
Read More

James 1 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

The Challenge of Faith1 James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, to the twelve dispersed tribes: greeting. 2 My dear family, when you find yourselves tumbling into various trials and tribulations, learn to look at it with complete joy, 3 because you know that, when your faith is put...
Read More

James 1 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Salutation1 James, a servant[a] of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:Greetings. Faith and Wisdom2 My brothers and sisters,[b] whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance...
Read More

James 1 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Salutation1 James, a servant[a] of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:Greetings. Faith and Wisdom2 My brothers and sisters,[b] whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance...
Read More

James 1 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Salutation1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes in the dispersion:Greetings.Faith and Wisdom2 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy,(A)3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endura...
Read More

James 1 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

He exhorts to rejoice in trouble, to be fervent in prayer with steadfast belief, to look for all good things from above, to forsake all vice, and thankfully to receive the word of God, not only hearing it and speaking of it, but to do thereafter in deed. True religion or devotion: what it is.1 James...
Read More

James 1 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Greetings from James1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad.Greetings! Faith and Endurance2 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for gre...
Read More

James 1 - New Life Version (NLV)

1 This letter is from James. I am a servant owned by God and the Lord Jesus Christ. I greet the twelve family groups of the Jewish nation living in many parts of the world. Take Hope When Tests Come2 My Christian brothers, you should be happy when you have all kinds of tests. 3 You know these prove...
Read More

James 1 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Greeting to the Twelve Tribes1 James, (A)a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:Greetings. Profiting from Trials2 My brethren, (B)count it all joy (C)when you fall into various trials, 3 (D)knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a...
Read More