James 1:22,26 - Compare All Versions

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Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

But  be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

If anyone  thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue,  his religion is useless and he deceives himself.

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

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth].

If anyone thinks himself to be religious [scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless (futile, barren).

But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.

If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.