Bible Gateway passage: James 1 - New International Version (2024)

1James,^(A) a servant of God^(B) and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes^(C) scattered^(D) among the nations:

Greetings.^(E)

Trials and Temptations

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,^{(F) 3}because you know that the testing of your faith^(G) produces perseverance.^{(H) 4}Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature^(I) and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,^(J) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.^{(K) 6}But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,^(L) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸Such a person is double-minded^(M) and unstable^(N) in all they do.

⁹Believers in humble circ*mstances ought to take pride in their high position.^{(O) 10}But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.^{(P) 11}For the sun rises with scorching heat^(Q) and withers^(R) the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.^(S) In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

¹²Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial^(T) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life^(U) that the Lord has promised to those who love him.^(V)

¹³When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own^(W) evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin;^(X) and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.^(Y)

¹⁶Don’t be deceived,^(Z) my dear brothers and sisters.^{(AA) 17}Every good and perfect gift is from above,^(AB) coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,^(AC) who does not change^(AD) like shifting shadows. ¹⁸He chose to give us birth^(AE) through the word of truth,^(AF) that we might be a kind of firstfruits^(AG) of all he created.

Listening and Doing

¹⁹My dear brothers and sisters,^(AH) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak^(AI) and slow to become angry, ²⁰because human anger^(AJ) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹Therefore, get rid of^(AK) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,^(AL) which can save you.

²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.^{(AM) 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 ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,^(AN) and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.^(AO)

²⁶Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues^(AP) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after^(AQ) orphans and widows^(AR) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.^(AS)

Footnotes

1. James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.

Cross references

1. James 1:1 : S Ac 15:13
2. James 1:1 : Ro 1:1; Tit 1:1
3. James 1:1 : Ac 26:7
4. James 1:1 : Dt 32:26; Jn 7:35; 1Pe 1:1
5. James 1:1 : Ac 15:23
6. James 1:2 : ver 12; S Mt 5:12; Heb 10:34; 12:11
7. James 1:3 : 1Pe 1:7
8. James 1:3 : S Heb 10:36
9. James 1:4 : S 1Co 2:6
10. James 1:5 : 1Ki 3:9, 10; Pr 2:3-6
11. James 1:5 : Ps 51:6; Da 1:17; 2:21; S Mt 7:7
12. James 1:6 : S Mt 21:21; Mk 11:24
13. James 1:8 : Ps 119:113; Jas 4:8
14. James 1:8 : 2Pe 2:14; 3:16
15. James 1:9 : S Mt 23:12
16. James 1:10 : Job 14:2; Ps 103:15, 16; Isa 40:6, 7; 1Co 7:31; 1Pe 1:24
17. James 1:11 : Mt 20:12
18. James 1:11 : Ps 102:4, 11
19. James 1:11 : Isa 40:6-8
20. James 1:12 : ver 2; Ge 22:1; Jas 5:11; 1Pe 3:14
21. James 1:12 : S 1Co 9:25
22. James 1:12 : Ex 20:6; 1Co 2:9; 8:3; Jas 2:5
23. James 1:14 : Pr 19:3
24. James 1:15 : Ge 3:6; Job 15:35; Ps 7:14; Isa 59:4
25. James 1:15 : S Ro 6:23
26. James 1:16 : S 1Co 6:9
27. James 1:16 : ver 19; Jas 2:5
28. James 1:17 : Ps 85:12; Jn 3:27; Jas 3:15, 17
29. James 1:17 : Ge 1:16; Ps 136:7; Da 2:22; 1Jn 1:5
30. James 1:17 : Nu 23:19; Ps 102:27; Mal 3:6
31. James 1:18 : S Jn 1:13
32. James 1:18 : S 2Ti 2:15
33. James 1:18 : Jer 2:3; Rev 14:4
34. James 1:19 : ver 16; Jas 2:5
35. James 1:19 : Pr 10:19; Jas 3:3-12
36. James 1:20 : S Mt 5:22
37. James 1:21 : S Eph 4:22
38. James 1:21 : Eph 1:13
39. James 1:22 : S Mt 7:21; Jas 2:14-20
40. James 1:25 : Ps 19:7; Jn 8:32; Gal 2:4; Jas 2:12
41. James 1:25 : S Jn 13:17
42. James 1:26 : Ps 34:13; 39:1; 141:3; Jas 3:2-12; 1Pe 3:10
43. James 1:27 : Mt 25:36
44. James 1:27 : Dt 14:29; Job 31:16, 17, 21; Ps 146:9; Isa 1:17, 23
45. James 1:27 : Ro 12:2; Jas 4:4; 2Pe 1:4; 2:20