A Greeting from James
(Jude 1:1–2)

1James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are in the Dispersion, greeting.

Rejoicing in Trials
(Philippians 1:12–20)

2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall in with manifold temptations; 3knowing that the proving of your faith establishes patience. 4And let patience have a perfect work; that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.

5But, if any of you is lacking in wisdom, let him ask from God, Who giveth to all liberally, and upbraideth not; and it will be given him; 6but let him ask in faith, nothing doubting; for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, wind-driven and tossed. 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8a double-souled man, unstable in all his ways.

9But let the lowly brother glory in his high station; 10and the rich, in his humiliation; because, as a flower of grass, he shall pass away. 11For the sun arose with scorching heat, and withered the grass, and its flower fell out, and the beauty of its appearance perished, so also will the rich man fade away in his goings.

12Happy is a man who endures temptation; because, when he becomes approved, he will receive the crown of life, which He promised to those who love Him.

Good and Perfect Gifts

13Let no one, when tempted, say, "I am tempted from God"; for God cannot be tempted with evils, and He Himself tempteth no one. 14But each one is tempted, when by his own desire he is drawn away and enticed. 15Then the desire, having conceived, brings forth sin; and sin, when completed, brings forth death. 16Be not deceived, my beloved brethren. 17Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with Whom there is no variableness or shadow cast by turning. 18Having willed it, He brought us forth with a word of truth, that we might be a certain first-fruit of His creatures.

Hearing and Doing

19Ye know this, my beloved brethren; but let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20for man's wrath works not God's righteousness. 21Wherefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive in meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22And become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. 23Because, if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror; 24for he observed himself, and went away, and straightway he forgot what manner of man he was. 25But he who looks carefully into a perfect law?that of liberty?and remains by it, becoming not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work?this man shall be happy in his doing.

26If anyone thinks that he is religious, while he bridles not his own tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27A religion, pure and undefiled with our God and Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.