Jacob (James) 1
1
Greetings
1Jacob, a slave of God and of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, To the twelve tribes in the Diaspora: Shalom!
Rejoice in Trials
2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4And let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all without hesitation and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
6But let him ask in faith, without any doubting—for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord—
8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9But let the brother in humble circumstances boast in his high position—
10and the rich person in his humble position, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
11For the sun arises with a scorching heat and withers the grass, and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed. So also the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.
12Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love Him.
13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”—for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He himself tempts no one.
14But each one is tempted when he is dragged away and enticed by his own desire.
15Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is full grown, it brings forth death.
16Do not be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.
17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
18By His will, He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.
Quick to Listen, Slow to Anger
19Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger—
20for human anger doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.
21So put away all moral filth and excess of evil and receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror—
24for once he looks at himself and goes away, he immediately forgets what sort of person he was.
25But the one who looks intently into the perfect Torah, the Torah that gives freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts—he shall be blessed in what he does.
26If anyone thinks he is religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is futile.
27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
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Jacob (James) 1: TLV
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
James 1
1
1This letter comes from James, servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is sent to the twelve tribes scattered abroad.#1:1. Referring to the twelve tribes of Israel, of course. Best wishes to you!
2My friends, choose to stay happy even when all kinds of troubles come your way, 3because you know that endurance comes from dealing with challenges to your trust in God. 4Let your endurance become as strong as possible, so that you will be completely mature, without any shortcomings.
5If any of you need wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to everyone without holding back. 6But when you ask, remember to trust in God—don't have any doubts. Someone who doubts is like the crashing waves of the sea, tossed about and driven by the wind. 7Nobody like that should think they'll get anything from the Lord— 8their minds think every which way, and they're unstable in whatever they do.
9Believers who are born poor should take pride in the high position they've been given, 10while the rich should “boast” in the humble position they now have,#1:10. Referring primarily to the way each group is viewed by God (1:9-10); not necessarily their position in society… since they will fade away like flowers in the field. 11For the sun rises along with the blistering wind and scorches the grass. The flowers fall and their beauty is marred. Everything the rich achieve will fade in just the same way.
12Happy is anyone who patiently endures temptation, for when they've proved that they are trustworthy, they will receive the crown of life which God promises to those who love him. 13Nobody should say when they're tempted, “I'm being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. 14Temptations come from our own evil desires that lead us astray and entrap us. 15Such desires lead to sin, and sin, when it's fully developed, causes death.
16My dear friends, don't be deceived. 17All that's good, every perfect gift, is from above, and comes down from the Father who made heaven's lights. Unlike them he doesn't change—he doesn't vary or cause shadows.#1:17. James seems to be referring to the varying movements of heavenly bodies and eclipses (shadows). 18He chose to give us new life through the word of truth, so that out of all his creation we would be very special to him.#1:18. Usually thought to refer to God's call and provision for us to be born again spiritually.
19Remember this, my dear friends: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak, and slow to get angry, 20because human anger doesn't reflect the good character of God.#1:20. Literally, “achieve God's righteousness.” 21So get rid of all that's filthy and evil. Humbly accept the word that's been implanted within you—for this is what can save you. 22But do what the word says—don't just listen to it and delude yourselves. 23If you just listen to the word, and don't act on it, it's like staring at your own face in a mirror. 24You see yourself, but then you leave, and immediately forget what you looked like. 25But if you look to the perfect law of freedom and follow it, not as someone who just listens and then forgets, but as someone who acts on it—then you will be blessed in what you do. 26If you think you're religious, but don't control what you say, you deceive yourself—your religion is pointless. 27In the eyes of our God and Father, religion that's pure and genuine is to visit orphans and widows in their suffering, and to keep yourself from being contaminated by the world.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com