James.1

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Jas.1.1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Jas.1.1

I, James, am a slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello!

Jas.1.1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

Jas.1.1

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

Jas.1.1

This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is written to Jewish Christians scattered among the nations. Greetings!

Jas.1.2

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

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Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.

Jas.1.2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

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My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

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Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.

Jas.1.3

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Jas.1.3

You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.

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because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

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knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

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For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

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But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

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So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Jas.1.4

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Jas.1.4

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

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So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

Jas.1.5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Jas.1.5

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.

Jas.1.5

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Jas.1.5

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.

Jas.1.5

If you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.

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But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Jas.1.6

Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves.

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But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown 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.

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But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

Jas.1.7

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

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Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way,

Jas.1.7

That man should not think 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;

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People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Jas.1.8

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

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adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

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he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

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he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

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They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.

Jas.1.9

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

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When down-and-outers get a break, cheer!

Jas.1.9

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.

Jas.1.9

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,

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Christians who are poor should be glad, for God has honored them.

Jas.1.10

But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

Jas.1.10

And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it.

Jas.1.10

But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.

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but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.

Jas.1.10

And those who are rich should be glad, for God has humbled them. They will fade away like a flower in the field.

Jas.1.11

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

Jas.1.11

You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.

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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 man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

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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.

Jas.1.11

The hot sun rises and dries up the grass; the flower withers, and its beauty fades away. So also, wealthy people will fade away with all of their achievements.

Jas.1.12

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Jas.1.12

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

Jas.1.12

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Jas.1.12

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.

Jas.1.12

God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Jas.1.13

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

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Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way.

Jas.1.13

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 when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

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And remember, no one who wants to do wrong should ever say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either.

Jas.1.14

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Jas.1.14

The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust.

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but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

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But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

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Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires.

Jas.1.15

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Jas.1.15

Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.

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Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Jas.1.15

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

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These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death.

Jas.1.16

Do not err, my beloved brethren.

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So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course.

Jas.1.16

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.

Jas.1.16

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Jas.1.16

So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.

Jas.1.17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Jas.1.17

Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.

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Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Jas.1.17

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.

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Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows.

Jas.1.18

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

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He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

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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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Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

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In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession.

Jas.1.19

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

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Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.

Jas.1.19

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Jas.1.19

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

Jas.1.19

My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Jas.1.20

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

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God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger.

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for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

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for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

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Your anger can never make things right in God's sight.

Jas.1.21

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Jas.1.21

So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

Jas.1.21

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.

Jas.1.21

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

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So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls.

Jas.1.22

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jas.1.22

Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!

Jas.1.22

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

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But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

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And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself.

Jas.1.23

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

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Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror,

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Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his 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;

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For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance.

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For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

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walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

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and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

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for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

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You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

Jas.1.25

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Jas.1.25

But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God--the free life!-even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.

Jas.1.25

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

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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.

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But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law--the law that sets you free--and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Jas.1.26

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Jas.1.26

Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air.

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If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his 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.

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If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

Jas.1.27

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

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Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

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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.

Jas.1.27

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.

Jas.1.27

Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.

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