| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the 12 tribes in the Dispersion. Greetings. | 1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings. |
| 2Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, | 2Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, |
| 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. | 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. |
| 4But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. | 4And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. |
| 5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. | 5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God--who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly--and it will be given to him. |
| 6But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. | 6But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. |
| 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. | 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, |
| 8An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways. | 8being double-minded and unstable in all his ways. |
| 9The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation, | 9Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, |
| 10but the one who is rich should boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. | 10but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. |
| 11For the sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will wither away while pursuing his activities. | 11For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities. |
| 12A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. | 12Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. |
| 13No one undergoing a trial should say, "I am being tempted by God." For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone. | 13No one undergoing a trial should say, "I am being tempted by God," since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn't tempt anyone. |
| 14But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. | 14But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. |
| 15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. | 15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. |
| 16Don't be deceived, my dearly loved brothers. | 16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. |
| 17Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. | 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. |
| 18By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures. | 18By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. |
| 19My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, | 19My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, |
| 20for man's anger does not accomplish God's righteousness. | 20for human anger does not accomplish God's righteousness. |
| 21Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you. | 21Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. |
| 22But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | 22But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. |
| 23Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. | 23Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. |
| 24For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. | 24For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. |
| 25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works--this person will be blessed in what he does. | 25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works--this person will be blessed in what he does. |
| 26If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless and he deceives himself. | 26If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself. |
| 27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. | 27Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world. |
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