Isa. xxxii. 17. Isa. xxxv. 3. Deut. xxix. 18. Gen. xxv. 31. Ex. xix. 16. Ex. xix. 12. Deut. ix. 19. Luke x. 20. Ex. xxiv. 8. we not much rather be in subjection to the Wherefore, strengthen the hands which hang 12 down and the feeble knees; and make straight 13 paths for your feet; that what is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather may be healed. Follow after peace with all men; and after 14 holiness, without which no one will see the LORD; looking diligently, lest any one falling away from 15 the grace of GOD, any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you, and the many be defiled thereby; lest there be any fornicator or profane person, 16 such as Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright. For ye know that afterwards, when he 17 desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, though he sought it earnestly with tears; for he found no place for repentance. For ye have not come to that which could be 18 felt, and which burned with fire; and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound 19 of a trumpet, and the utterance of words; the hearers of which entreated that no word more should be spoken to them-for they were not 20 able to bear that which was enjoined, "And if even a beast touch the mount, it shall be stoned"; and, so terrible was the sight, Moses said, "I 21 exceedingly fear and tremble"-but ye have 22 come to a mount Sion and to a city of the living GOD, a heavenly Jerusalem, and to tens of thousands of angels; to a general assembly and 23 church of first-born who have been enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all; and to spirits of just men made perfect; and to Jesus 24 the mediator of a new covenant, and to a blood of sprinkling which speaketh in better wise than did Abel. See that ye reject not him who speaketh. For 25 if they escaped not when they rejected him who I gave warning on earth, much more shall we not escape, who turn away from him who warneth 26 from heaven; whose voice then shook the earth; Hag. ii. 6. but who now hath promised, "Again, once for all I will shake, not the earth only, but also the 27 heavens." And this word, "again, once for all," pointeth to the removing of those things which are shaken, as of things which are made, that those things which are not shaken may 28 remain. Wherefore, as we are receiving a kingdom which is not to be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may serve GOD acceptably with 29 reverence and fear; for our GOD is a consuming Deut. iv. 24. fire. 2 LET brotherly love continue. Forget not to entertain strangers; for thereby some have en- Gen. xviii., xix. 3 tertained angels unawares. Remember those Matt. xxv. 36. who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who suffer adversity, as being yourselves 4 also in the body. Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers GOD will judge. 5 Let your life be free from covetousness; be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said, "I will in no wise leave thee, neither will I 6 in any wise forsake thee"; so that we boldly say, "The LORD is my helper, I will not fear; What shall man do unto me?" 7 Remember those who have rule over you, who spoke to you the word of GOD; and, considering the outcome of their way of life, be imitators of their faith. Deut. xxxi. 8. 1 Josh. i. 5. Psa. cxviii. 6. 8 Jesus Christ is the same (a), yesterday and to Rev. i. 4. 9 day, and for ever. Be not carried away by 1 John iv. 1. divers and strange doctrines; for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with foods, by which those who occupy Heb. ix. 10. themselves therewith have not profited. ΙΟ We have an altar from which those who serve II the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those victims, the blood of which is 29 (a) Or the self-same. Lev. iv. 12. Lev. xvi. 27. Mic. ii. 10. Isa. lvii. 19. I Thess. v. 12. Acts xxiv. 16. I Thess. v. 23. I Pet. v. 10. for a sin-offering, are burnt outside the camp. Obey those who have rule over you, and sub- 17 Pray for us; for we are persuaded that we 18 have a good conscience, in all things wishing to live honourably; and I the more earnestly be- 19 seech you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now the GOD of peace, who brought from the 20 dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of an everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good thing 21 to do His will, working in us (a) that which is well-pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever. Amen. BUT I beseech you, brethren, bear with the 22 word of exhortation; for I have written to you in few words. Know that our brother Timothy 23 is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all those who have rule over you, and 24 all the saints. They from Italy salute you. Grace be with you all. 25 (a) Or you. THE GENERAL EPISTLE 1 I 2 JAMES, OF JAMES a servant of GOD, and of the Lord Jude 1. Jesus Christ, to the Twelve Tribes which Acts viii. 1. are of the Dispersion, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into 3 divers trials; knowing that the trying of your Rom. v. 3. 4 faith worketh patience: but let patience have 5 its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and en tire, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of Pro. ii. 3. 6 not; and it will be given him. But let him ask 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he 10 is exalted; but the rich, in that he is brought low; because as the flower of the grass he will Isa. xl. 6. I pass away. For the sun riseth with its burning heat, and withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also will the rich man fade away in his goings. 12 13 BLESSED is the man who endureth tempta- 2 Tim. iv. 8. tion; for when he is proved he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those Rev. ii. 19 who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by GOD; for GOD cannot be tempted 14 with evil, neither tempteth He any man. But every one is tempted, when he is drawn away Hos. xiii. 9. 15 and enticed by his own lust. Then, when lust Job xv. 35. hath conceived, it beareth sin; and sin, when it Ye know this, my beloved brethren; but let 19 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers 22 only, deceiving your own selves. For if any 23 one is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a mirror -for he beheld himself, and has gone his way; 24 and he immediately forgot what manner of man he was. But whoso looked into a perfect law, 25 the law of liberty, and continued therein, having become, not a hearer who forgetteth, but a doer who worketh, will be blessed in his deed. If any one is counted to be religious, yet 26 bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, that man's religion is worthless. Religion 27 pure and undefiled before our GOD and Father is MY brethren, hold not (b) the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, with respect of persons. For if there came into your assembly a man with gold rings and in rich clothing, and there came in also a poor man in mean clothing; and ye had regard to him wearing the rich clothing, and said, Sit thou here in an honourable place; and ye said to the poor man, Stand thou there, or, Sit by my footstool(b) Or do ye hold? (a) Or cast by. I 2 2 3 |