| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. | 1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings. |
| 2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, | 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, |
| 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. | 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. |
| 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. | 4Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. |
| 5If 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. | 5Now 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. |
| 6But 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. | 6But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. |
| 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; | 7That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. |
| 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. | 8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. |
| 9Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, | 9The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position. |
| 10but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. | 10But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. |
| 11For 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. | 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits. |
| 12Blessed 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. | 12Blessed 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. |
| 13Let 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. | 13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. |
| 14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. | 14But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. |
| 15Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. | 15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. |
| 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. | 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. |
| 17Every 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. | 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. |
| 18Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. | 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation. |
| 19So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; | 19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, |
| 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. | 20for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. |
| 21Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. | 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls. |
| 22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | 22Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. |
| 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; | 23For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, |
| 24for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. | 24and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. |
| 25But 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. | 25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does. |
| 26If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. | 26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. |
| 27Pure 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. | 27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. |
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