James 1

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.

James 1

21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent

and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it

says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like

a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself,

goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who

looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do

this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in

what he does.

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein

on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion

that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after

orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted

by the world.

James 2

5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the

eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised

those who love him? 6But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who

are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

7Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you

belong?

James 2

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives

freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has

not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

Faith and Deeds

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no

deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without

clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well;

keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what

good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by

action, is dead.

18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what

I do.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and

shudder.

20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is

useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did

when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his

actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he

did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and

it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.

24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous

for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a

different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith

without deeds is dead.

James 5

7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer

waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the

autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the

Lord's coming is near. 9Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you

will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the

prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider

blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and

have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of

compassion and mercy.