We must resist temptation. grace of the fashion of it perish-meekness the ingrafted word, eth so also shall the rich man which is able to save your souls. fade away in his ways. 22 But be ye doers of the JAMES, II. Doers of the word are blessed. 12 Blessed is the man that word, and not hearers only, endureth temptation: for when deceiving your own selves. he is tried, he shall receive the 23 For if any be a hearer of crown of life, which the Lord the word, and not a doer, he is hath promised to them that love like unto a man beholding his him. natural face in a glass: 13 Let no man say when he is 24 For he beholdeth himself, tempted, I am tempted of God: and goeth his way, and straightfor God cannot be tempted with way forgetteth what manner of evil, neither tempteth he any man he was. man: 25 But whoso looketh into 14 But every man is tempted, the perfect law of liberty, and when he is drawn away of his continueth therein, he being not own lust, and enticed. a forgetful hearer, but a doer 15 Then, when lust hath con-of the work, this man shall be ceived, it bringeth forth sin; and blessed in his deed. sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is 17 Every good gift and every vain. perfect gift is from above, and 27 Pure religion and undefiled cometh down from the Father before God and the Father is of lights, with whom is no this, To visit the fatherless and variableness, neither shadow of widows in their affliction, and turning. to keep himself unspotted from 18. Of his own will begat he the world. us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. CHAP. II. Of faith and works. MY brethren, have not the 19 Wherefore, my beloved faith of our Lord Jesus brethren, let every man be swift Christ, the Lord of glory, with to hear, slow to speak, slow to respect of persons. wrath : 2 For if there come unto your 20 For the wrath of man assembly, a man with a gold worketh not the righteousness ring, in goodly apparel, and of God. there come in also a poor man 21 Wherefore lay apart all in vile raiment; filthiness, and superfluity of of 3 And ye have respect to him naughtiness, and receive with that weareth the gay clothing, JAMES, The poor not to be despised. Of faith without works and say unto him, Sit thou here shewed no mercy; and mercy in a good place; and say to the rejoiceth against judgment. poor, Stand thou there, or sit 14 What doth it profit, my here under my footstool: brethren, though a man say he 4 Are ye not then partial in hath faith, and have not works? yourselves, and are become can faith save him? judges of evil thoughts? 15 If a brother or sister be 5 Hearken, my beloved breth-naked, and destitute of daily ren, Hath not God chosen the food, poor of this world rich in faith, 16 And one of you say unto and heirs of the kingdom which them, Depart in peace, be ye he hath promised to them that warmed and filled; notwithlove him? standing ye give them not those 6 But ye have despised the things which are needful to the poor. Do not rich men oppress body; what doth it profit? you, and draw you before the 17 Even so faith, if it hath judgment-seats? not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, 'Thou 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye hast faith, and I have works : are called? shew me thy faith without thy 8 If ye fulfil the royal law works, and I will shew thee my according to the scripture, Thou faith by my works. shalt love thy neighbour as thy- 19 Thou believest that there self, ye do well: is one God; thou doest well: 9 But if ye have respect to the devils also believe, and persons, ye commit sin, and are tremble. convinced of the law as trans gressors. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without 10 For whosoever shall keep works is dead? the whole law, and yet offend 21 Was not Abraham our in one point, he is guilty of father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son all. 11 For he that said, Do not upon the altar? commit adultery; said also, Do 22 Seest thou how faith not kill. Now, if thou commit wrought with his works, and by no adultery, yet if thou kill, works was faith made perfect? thou art become a transgressor 23 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham 12 So speak ye, and so do, believed God, and it was imas they that shall be judged by puted unto him for righteousthe law of liberty. ness: and he was called the 13 For he shall have judg-Friend of God. of the law. ment without mercy that hath 24 Ye see then how that by Of governing the tongue. CHAP. III. The fruits of true wisdom. works a man is justified, and not and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed, of man by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not kind: Rahab the harlot justified by 8 But the tongue can no man works, when she had received tame; it is an unruly evil, full the messengers, and had sent of deadly poison. them out another way? 9 Therewith bless we God, 26 For as the body without even the Father; and therewith the spirit is dead, so faith with-curse we men, which are made out works is dead also. after the similitude of God. M CHAP. III. Of prudence in reproving. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. Y brethren, be not many My brethren, these things ought masters, knowing that we not so to be. shall receive the greater con- 11 Doth a fountain send forth demnation. at the same place sweet water 2 For in many things we and bitter? offend all. If any man offend 12 Can the fig-tree, my brethnot in word, the same is a per-ren, bear olive-berries? either fect man, and able also to bridle a vine, figs? so can no fountain the whole body. both yield salt water and fresh. 3 Behold, we put bits in the 13 Who is a wise man and horses' mouths, that they may endued with knowledge among obey us; and we turn about you? let him shew out of a good their whole body. conversation his works with 4 Behold also the ships, which, meekness of wisdom. though they be so great, and are 14 But if ye have bitter endriven of fierce winds, yet are vying and strife in your hearts, they turned about with a very glory not, and lie not against small helm, whithersoever the the truth. governor listeth. 15 This wisdom descendeth 5 Even so the tongue is a not from above, but is earthly, little member, and boasteth sensual, devilish. great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and 6 And the tongue is a fire, a every evil work. world of iniquity: so is the 17 But the wisdom that is tongue among our members, that from above is first pure, then it defileth the whole body, and peaceable, gentle, and easy to setteth on fire the course of na-be entreated, full of mercy and ture; and it is set on fire of hell. good fruits, without partiality, 7 For every kind of beasts, and without hypocrisy. and of birds, and of serpents, 18 And the fruit of righteous JAMES, The evil tendency of unruly passions and lusts ness is sown in peace of them sight of the Lord, and he shall that make peace. lift you up. FRO CHAP. IV. 11 Speak not evil one of Against covetousness, &c. another, brethren. He that ROM whence come wars and speaketh evil of his brother, and fightings among you? come judgeth his brother, speaketh they not hence, even of your lusis evil of the law, and judgeth the that war in your members? law: but if thou judge the law, 2 Ye lust and have not: ye thou art not a doer of the law, kill, and desire to have, and but a judge. cannot obtain: ye fight and war,| 12 There is one lawgiver, yet ye have not, because ye ask who is able to save, and to destroy: who art thou that judgest not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, another? because ye ask amiss, that ye 13 Go to now, ye that say, may consume it upon your lusts. To-day or to-morrow we will 4 Ye adulterers and adulte-go into such a city, and continue resses, know ye not that the there a year, and buy, and sell, friendship of the world is enmity and get gain: with God? whosoever therefore 14 Whereas ye know not what will be a friend of the world is shall be on the morrow. For the enemy of God. what is your life? It is even a va5 Do ye think that the scrip- pour, that appeareth for a little ture saith in vain, The spirit time, and then vanisheth away. that dwelleth in us lusteth to 15 For that ye ought to say, envy? If the Lord will, we shall live, 16 But now ye rejoice in your 6 But he giveth more grace. and do this, or that. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace boastings: all such rejoicing is unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. evil. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. CHAP. V. Of wicked rich men, &c. Go to now, ye rich men, weep 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be and your garments are mothturned to mourning, and your eaten. joy to heaviness. 3 Your gold and silver is 10 Humble yourselves in the cankered; and the rust of them l'o be patient in affliction. shall be a witness against you, 12 But above all things, my and shall eat your flesh as it brethren, swear not, neither by were fire. Ye have heaped trea-heaven, neither by the earth, sure together for the last days. neither by any other oath: but 4 Behold, the hire of the let your yea, be CHAP. V. Efficacy of fervent prayer. your yea; and labourers who have reaped nay, nay; lest ye fall into condown your fields, which is of demnation. you kept back by fraud, crieth; 13 Is any among you afflicted? and the cries of them which let him pray. Is any merry? have reaped are entered into let him sing psalms. the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 14 Is any sick among you? 5 Ye have lived in pleasure let him call for the elders of the on the earth, and been wanton; church; and let them pray over ye have nourished your hearts, him, anointing him with oil in as in a day of slaughter. the name of the Lord: 6 Ye have condemned and 15 And the prayer of faith killed the just; and he doth not shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he 7 Be patient therefore, breth- have committed sins, they shall ren, unto the coming of the be forgiven him. resist you. 4 Lord. Behold, the husbandman 16 Confess your faults one waiteth for the precious fruit of to another, and pray one for the earth, and hath long pa- another, that ye may be healtience for it, until he receive ed. The effectual fervent prayer the early and latter rain. of a righteous man availeth 8 Be ye also patient; establish much. your hearts for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he 9 Grudge not one against prayed earnestly that it might another, brethren, lest ye be not rain: and it rained not on condemned: behold, the Judge the earth by the space of three standeth before the door. years and six months. 10 Take, my brethren, the 18 And he prayed again, and prophets, who have spoken in the heaven gave rain, and the the name of the Lord, for an earth brought forth her fruit. example of suffering affliction, 19 Brethren, if any of you and of patience. do err from the truth, and one 11 Behold, we count them convert him; happy which endure. Ye have 20 Let him know, that he heard of the patience of Job, which converteth the sinner and have seen the end of the from the error of his way shall Lord; that the Lord is very save a soul from death, and shall pitiful, and of tender mercy. hide a multitude of sins. |