James 1

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.	1 James, a servant of God and of the LORD Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: Greeting.
2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,	2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.	3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.	4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.	5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.
6 But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.	6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,	7 For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.
8 since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.	8 .
9 The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in his high standing,	9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
10 and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away "like the flower of the field."	10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.	11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.	12 Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.
13 No one experiencing temptation should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one.	13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one;
14 Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.	14 but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
15 Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.	15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers:	16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
17 all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.	17 Every good endowment 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.
18 He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.	18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
19 Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath,	19 Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,
20 for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.	20 for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.	21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.	22 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 at his own face in a mirror.	23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror;
24 He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like.	24 for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
25 But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does.	25 But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.	26 If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.	27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.