| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 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 in the Dispersion: Greetings. |
| 2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, | 2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, |
| 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. | 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. |
| 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. | 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. |
| 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. | 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given 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 let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. |
| 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; | 7For that person must not suppose that he will 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, | 9Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, |
| 10but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. | 10and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. |
| 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 its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man 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 remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which 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. | 13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. |
| 14But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. | 14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. |
| 15Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. | 15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth 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 gift 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. |
| 18Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. | 18Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. |
| 19So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; | 19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; |
| 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. | 20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. |
| 21Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. | 21Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness 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. |
| 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 if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. |
| 24for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. | 24For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was 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 into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. |
| 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 thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s 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. | 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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