James Chapter 1

12 For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass; and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings.

13 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which

14 the Lord promised to them that love him.

15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:

16 but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

17 Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death.

18 Be not deceived, my beloved brethren.

19 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.

20 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

21 Ye know

22 this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

23 for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

24 Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.

26 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror:

27 for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 James, bondman ofGod and of [the] Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which [are] in the dispersion, greeting.

2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into various temptations,

3 knowing that the proving of your faith works endurance.

4 But let endurance have [its] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask ofGod, who gives to all freely and reproaches not, and it shall be given to him:

6 but let him ask in faith, nothing doubting. For he that doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed about;

7 for let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord;

8 [he is] a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 But let the brother of low degree glory in his elevation,

10 and the rich in his humiliation, because as [the] grass's flower he will pass away.

11 For the sun has risen with its burning heat, and has withered the grass, and its flower has fallen, and the comeliness of its look has perished: thus the rich also shall wither in his goings.

12 Blessed [is the] man who endures temptation; for, having been proved, he shall receive the crown of life, which He has promised to them that love him.

13 Let no man, being tempted, say, I am tempted ofGod. ForGod cannot be tempted by evil things, and himself tempts no one.

14 But every one is tempted, drawn away, and enticed by his own lust;

15 then lust, having conceived, gives birth to sin; but sin fully completed brings forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of turning.

18 According to his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a certain first-fruits of his creatures.

19 So that, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

20 for man's wrath does not workGod's righteousness.

21 Wherefore, laying aside all filthiness and abounding of wickedness, accept with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of [the] word and not hearers only, beguiling yourselves.

23 For if any man be a hearer of [the] word and not a doer, he is like to a man considering his natural face in a mirror:

24 for he has considered himself and is gone away, and straightway he has forgotten what he was like.

25 But he that fixes his view on [the] perfect law, that of liberty, and abides in [it], being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of [the] work, he shall be blessed in his doing.

26 If any one think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, this man's religion is vain.

27 Pure and undefiled religion beforeGod and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Iacobus Dei, et Domini nostri Iesu Christi servus, duodecim tribubus, quæ sunt in dispersione, salutem.

2 Omne gaudium existimate fratres mei, cum in tentationes varias incideritis:

3 scientes quod probatio fidei vestræ patientiam operatur.

4 Patientia autem opus perfectum habet: ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.

5 Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat: et dabitur ei.

6 Postulet autem in fide nihil hæsitans: qui enim hæsitat, similis est fluctui maris, qui a vento movetur et circumfertur.

7 non ergo æstimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.

8 Vir duplex animo inconstans est in omnibus viis suis.

9 Glorietur autem frater humilis in exaltatione sua:

10 dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos fœni transibit:

11 exortus est enim sol cum ardore, et arefecit fœnum, et flos eius decidit, et decor vultus eius deperiit: ita et dives in itineribus suis marcescet.

12 Beatus vir, qui suffert tentationem: quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitæ, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se.

13 Nemo cum tentatur, dicat quoniam a Deo tentatur: Deus enim intentator malorum est: ipse autem neminem tentat.

14 Unusquisque vero tentatur a concupiscentia sua abstractus, et illectus.

15 Deinde concupiscentia cum conceperit, parit peccatum: peccatum vero cum consummatum fuerit, generat mortem.

16 Nolite itaque errare fratres mei dilectissimi.

17 Omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio, nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.

18 Voluntarie enim genuit nos verbo veritatis, ut simus initium aliquod creaturæ eius.

19 Scitis fratres mei dilectissimi. Sit autem omnis homo velox ad audiendum: tardus autem ad loquendum, et tardus ad iram.

20 Ira enim viri, iustitiam Dei non operatur.

21 Propter quod abiicientes omnem immunditiam, et abundantiam malitiæ, in mansuetudine suscipite insitum verbum, quod potest salvare animas vestras.

22 Estote autem factores verbi, et non auditores tantum: fallentes vosmetipsos.

23 Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor: hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suæ in speculo:

24 consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.

25 Qui autem perspexerit in legem perfectam libertatis, et permanserit in ea, non auditor obliviosus factus, sed factor operis: hic beatus in facto suo erit.

26 Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, huius vana est religio.

27 Religio munda, et immaculata apud Deum et Patrem, hæc est: Visitare pupillos, et viduas in tribulatione eorum, et immaculatum se custodire ab hoc sæculo.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.

7 For that man shouldn’t think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position;

10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.

11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind and withers the grass; and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So the rich man will also fade away in his pursuits.

12 Blessed is a person who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to those who love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.

15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow.

18 Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

20 for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.

21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;

24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM

1 ιακωβος θεου και κυριου ιησου χριστου δουλος ταις δωδεκα φυλαις ταις εν τη διασπορα χαιρειν

2 πασαν χαραν ηγησασθε αδελφοι μου οταν πειρασμοις περιπεσητε ποικιλοις

3 γινωσκοντες οτι το δοκιμιον υμων της πιστεως κατεργαζεται υπομονην

4 η δε υπομονη εργον τελειον εχετω ινα ητε τελειοι και ολοκληροι εν μηδενι λειπομενοι

5 ει δε τις υμων λειπεται σοφιας αιτειτω παρα του διδοντος θεου πασιν απλως και μη ονειδιζοντος και δοθησεται αυτω

6 αιτειτω δε εν πιστει μηδεν διακρινομενος ο γαρ διακρινομενος εοικεν κλυδωνι θαλασσης ανεμιζομενω και ριπιζομενω

7 μη γαρ οιεσθω ο ανθρωπος εκεινος οτι λημψεται τι παρα του κυριου

8 ανηρ διψυχος ακαταστατος εν πασαις ταις οδοις αυτου

9 καυχασθω δε [ο] αδελφος ο ταπεινος εν τω υψει αυτου

10 ο δε πλουσιος εν τη ταπεινωσει αυτου οτι ως ανθος χορτου παρελευσεται

11 ανετειλεν γαρ ο ηλιος συν τω καυσωνι και εξηρανεν τον χορτον και το ανθος αυτου εξεπεσεν και η ευπρεπεια του προσωπου αυτου απωλετο ουτως και ο πλουσιος εν ταις πορειαις αυτου μαρανθησεται

12 μακαριος ανηρ ος υπομενει πειρασμον οτι δοκιμος γενομενος λημψεται τον στεφανον της ζωης ον επηγγειλατο τοις αγαπωσιν αυτον

13 μηδεις πειραζομενος λεγετω οτι απο θεου πειραζομαι ο γαρ θεος απειραστος εστιν κακων πειραζει δε αυτος ουδενα

14 εκαστος δε πειραζεται υπο της ιδιας επιθυμιας εξελκομενος και δελεαζομενος

15 ειτα η επιθυμια συλλαβουσα τικτει αμαρτιαν η δε αμαρτια αποτελεσθεισα αποκυει θανατον

16 μη πλανασθε αδελφοι μου αγαπητοι

17 πασα δοσις αγαθη και παν δωρημα τελειον ανωθεν εστιν καταβαινον απο του πατρος των φωτων παρ ω ουκ ενι παραλλαγη η τροπης αποσκιασμα

18 βουληθεις απεκυησεν ημας λογω αληθειας εις το ειναι ημας απαρχην τινα των αυτου κτισματων

19 ιστε αδελφοι μου αγαπητοι εστω δε πας ανθρωπος ταχυς εις το ακουσαι βραδυς εις το λαλησαι βραδυς εις οργην

20 οργη γαρ ανδρος δικαιοσυνην θεου ουκ εργαζεται

21 διο αποθεμενοι πασαν ρυπαριαν και περισσειαν κακιας εν πραυτητι δεξασθε τον εμφυτον λογον τον δυναμενον σωσαι τας ψυχας υμων

22 γινεσθε δε ποιηται λογου και μη ακροαται μονον παραλογιζομενοι εαυτους

23 οτι ει τις ακροατης λογου εστιν και ου ποιητης ουτος εοικεν ανδρι κατανοουντι το προσωπον της γενεσεως αυτου εν εσοπτρω

24 κατενοησεν γαρ εαυτον και απεληλυθεν και ευθεως επελαθετο οποιος ην

25 ο δε παρακυψας εις νομον τελειον τον της ελευθεριας και παραμεινας ουκ ακροατης επιλησμονης γενομενος αλλα ποιητης εργου ουτος μακαριος εν τη ποιησει αυτου εσται

26 ει τις δοκει θρησκος ειναι μη χαλιναγωγων γλωσσαν εαυτου αλλα απατων καρδιαν εαυτου τουτου ματαιος η θρησκεια

27 θρησκεια καθαρα και αμιαντος παρα τω θεω και πατρι αυτη εστιν επισκεπτεσθαι ορφανους και χηρας εν τη θλιψει αυτων ασπιλον εαυτον τηρειν απο του κοσμου

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 James, of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ a servant, to the Twelve Tribes who are in the dispersion: Hail!

2 All joy count <FI>it<Fi> , my brethren, when ye may fall into temptations manifold;

3 knowing that the proof of your faith doth work endurance,

4 and let the endurance have a perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire--in nothing lacking;

5 and if any of you do lack wisdom, let him ask from God, who is giving to all liberally, and not reproaching, and it shall be given to him;

6 and let him ask in faith, nothing doubting, for he who is doubting hath been like a wave of the sea, driven by wind and tossed,

7 for let not that man suppose that he shall receive anything from the Lord--

8 a two-souled man <FI>is<Fi> unstable in all his ways.

9 And let the brother who is low rejoice in his exaltation,

10 and the rich in his becoming low, because as a flower of grass he shall pass away;

11 for the sun did rise with the burning heat, and did wither the grass, and the flower of it fell, and the grace of its appearance did perish, so also the rich in his way shall fade away!

12 Happy the man who doth endure temptation, because, becoming approved, he shall receive the crown of the life, which the Lord did promise to those loving Him.

13 Let no one say, being tempted--`From God I am tempted,' for God is not tempted of evil, and Himself doth tempt no one,

14 and each one is tempted, by his own desires being led away and enticed,

15 afterward the desire having conceived, doth give birth to sin, and the sin having been perfected, doth bring forth death.

16 Be not led astray, my brethren beloved;

17 every good giving, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom is no variation, or shadow of turning;

18 having counselled, He did beget us with a word of truth, for our being a certain first-fruit of His creatures.

19 So then, my brethren beloved, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

20 for the wrath of a man the righteousness of God doth not work;

21 wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls;

22 and become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,

23 because, if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one hath been like to a man viewing his natural face in a mirror,

24 for he did view himself, and hath gone away, and immediately he did forget of what kind he was;

25 and he who did look into the perfect law--that of liberty, and did continue there, this one--not a forgetful hearer becoming, but a doer of work--this one shall be happy in his doing.

26 If any one doth think to be religious among you, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, of this one vain <FI>is<Fi> the religion;

27 religion pure and undefiled with the God and Father is this, to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation--unspotted to keep himself from the world.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).