James:1-2

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* James , a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ , to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad , greeting . * My brethren , count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations ; * Knowing this , that the trying of your faith worketh patience . * But let patience have her perfect work , that ye may be perfect and entire , wanting nothing . * 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 . * 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 . * For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord . * A double minded man is unstable in all his ways . * Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted : * But the rich , in that he is made low : because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 : * But every man is tempted , when he is drawn away of his own lust , and enticed . * Then when lust hath conceived , it bringeth forth sin : and sin , when it is finished , bringeth forth death . * Do not err , my beloved brethren . * 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 . * Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth , that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures . * Wherefore , my beloved brethren , let every man be swift to hear , slow to speak , slow to wrath : * For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God . * Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness , and receive with meekness the engrafted word , which is able to save your souls . * But be ye doers of the word , and not hearers only , deceiving your own selves . * 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 : * For he beholdeth himself , and goeth his way , and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * My brethren , have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ , the Lord of glory , with respect of persons . * For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring , in goodly apparel , and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment ; * And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing , and say unto him , Sit thou here in a good place ; and say to the poor , Stand thou there , or sit here under my footstool : * Are ye not then partial in yourselves , and are become judges of evil thoughts ? * Hearken , my beloved brethren , Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith , and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him ? * But ye have despised the poor . Do not rich men oppress you , and draw you before the judgment seats ? * Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called ? * If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself , ye do well : * But if ye have respect to persons , ye commit sin , and are convinced of the law as transgressors . * For whosoever shall keep the whole law , and yet offend in one point , he is guilty of all . * For he that said , Do not commit adultery , said also , Do not kill . Now if thou commit no adultery , yet if thou kill , thou art become a transgressor of the law . * So speak ye , and so do , as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty . * For he shall have judgment without mercy , that hath shewed no mercy ; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment . * What doth it profit , my brethren , though a man say he hath faith , and have not works ? can faith save him ? * If a brother or sister be naked , and destitute of daily food , * And one of you say unto them , Depart in peace , be ye warmed and filled ; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body ; what doth it profit ? * Even so faith , if it hath not works , is dead , being alone . * Yea , a man may say , Thou hast faith , and I have works : shew me thy faith without thy works , and I will shew thee my faith by my works . * Thou believest that there is one God ; thou doest well : the devils also believe , and tremble . * But wilt thou know , O vain man , that faith without works is dead ? * Was not Abraham our father justified by works , when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar ? * Seest thou how faith wrought with his works , and by works was faith made perfect ? * And the scripture was fulfilled which saith , Abraham believed God , and it was imputed unto him for righteousness : and he was called the Friend of God . * Ye see then how that by works a man is justified , and not by faith only . * Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works , when she had received the messengers , and had sent them out another way ? * For as the body without the spirit is dead , so faith without works is dead also . * My brethren , be not many masters , knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation .

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