James 1
1 James, a bondservant (devoted to, and in the love) of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered across the nations, rejoice.
James
2 My brethren, consider (and esteem above all things) the faith (of Him) with all joy when you fall into (and are surrounded by) various temptations;
3 Knowing this, that this faith which works in you (to persuade you of the work which God has already done to overcome all temptation) is (tried and) proven to produce (the fruit of) patience.
4 And allow that patience to have her perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, (being fully persuaded that you do not need to care for your own life, but where you rest that He has given you all things pertaining to life and Godlikeness) where you lack no good thing.
5 But if any of you lack wisdom let him look to God, the One who has given (the same measure of faith) to all men and gives generously and without (accusation or) finding fault (or respect of persons), and it will be given him.
6 But let him that asks (for wisdom) be (fully persuaded that it is found) in the faith, not vacillating (and fornicating being intimate with his own imaginations and the wisdom in the world). For he who does that is unstable (and uncertain, not being persuaded by the faith and) is like a wave of the sea that can be blown and tossed back and forth by the wind.
James
7 For truly the man (looking to his own imaginations and the way in the world) ought not think that he will receive anything from the Lord (in his own strength and wisdom).
8 A double minded man (who being a forgetful hearer of the faith instead looks to the way in the world which stands opposed to the wisdom and knowledge of God and does not continue in the faith of Jesus Christ) is unstable in all his ways.
James
9 Let the brother who (being poor in spirit) does not think more highly of himself than he should (seeing his inability to preserve his own life eternally) rejoice (in the faith of Jesus Christ) that he is exalted (unto the life and immortality of God apart from his own strength):
10 But let the man rich (in worldly goods), (rejoice) in that he is brought low (in humility): seeing that (his corruptible flesh is) like the flower of the grass so will he pass away (apart from the strength of God to preserve him unto life and immortality in his flesh).
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with its burning heat and it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls (to the ground), and the beauty of its appearance perishes: so also, will the rich man fade away by his own ways (and strength to preserve his dying flesh).
12 Blessed is the man who (through the faith of Jesus Christ) endures (with patience the) temptation (brought by death): for when he is tried (he is strengthened thereby), he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised (from the beginning) to all of them that love Him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted (by death), I am tempted of God: for God (who has no death in Him) can (therefore) not be tempted with evil (to try and preserve His own life, seeing as He already possesses an incorruptible life), neither does He tempt any man (to do that, because He has already promised to serve them with His life):
14 But every man is tempted (by death and not by God), when he is drawn away of his own lust (for life), and enticed (to take it by force, by the strength of his own hand).
15 Then when (their) lust (for life by their own works) has conceived (in their heart), it brings forth (the sting of death which is) iniquity: and iniquity, when it is finished, brings forth death.
16 Do not be misled (in error), my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift (originates and) is from above (from the word that was from the beginning) and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, (the same yesterday, today and forever), neither any shadow from His turning.
18 Of His own purpose (and desire) begat He us with the word of truth (that was from the beginning and was made immortal flesh in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, so that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures (the beginning of the creation of God).
19 Therefore, (knowing this) my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear (and hearken diligently to that word of truth He has spoken), slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man does not produce (or help bring forth) the justice of God (to appear in the life and immortality which God has set apart for you from the beginning).
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness (which is idolatry, making flesh your arm and your god) and the abundance of (labor and annoyances that) wickedness (will bring to you) and receive with meekness the word implanted (into your heart, where you no longer try to take the kingdom by force but rest in God to give it to you as a gift), which (word) is able to save your souls (from perishing in the grave).
22 But be doers of the word (by continuing in the work of looking to the One who promised, seeing He is also able to perform it to completion), and not only hearers, deceiving yourselves (in your own hearts).
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who beholds his natural face in a mirror:
24 For he views himself and goes away and immediately forgets what likeness he is.
25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty (at the word of promise made immortal flesh in the resurrection of Jesus Christ) and continues (to do the work of resting in the promise) therein, he is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work (of continuing in that word), this man will be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you thinks (himself) to be religious (in his fear and worship of God) but (what he believes in his heart) does not (and is unable to) curb his tongue (from speaking evil), but rather deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
27 Pure and undefiled religion comes from God the Father and is this; (to see that the Father has come in Jesus Christ) To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction (of death), and (being persuaded by and continuing in this word that the Father has poured out His life for us is one able) to keep himself (and his tongue) unspotted from (the corruption that is in) the world (through the lust of the flesh for life).
