| Verse |
King James Version |
New International Version |
Note |
|---|
| 1 |
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. |
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. |
|
| 2 |
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; |
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, |
|
| 3 |
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. |
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. |
|
| 4 |
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. |
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. |
|
| 5 |
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. |
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. |
|
| 6 |
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. |
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. |
|
| 7 |
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. |
That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; |
|
| 8 |
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. |
he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. |
|
| 9 |
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: |
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. |
|
| 10 |
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. |
But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. |
|
| 11 |
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it 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 ways. |
For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. |
|
| 12 |
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. |
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. |
|
| 13 |
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: |
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; |
|
| 14 |
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. |
but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. |
|
| 15 |
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. |
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. |
|
| 16 |
Do not err, my beloved brethren. |
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. |
|
| 17 |
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. |
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. |
|
| 18 |
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. |
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. |
|
| 19 |
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: |
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, |
|
| 20 |
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. |
for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. |
|
| 21 |
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. |
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. |
|
| 22 |
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. |
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. |
|
| 23 |
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: |
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror |
|
| 24 |
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. |
and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. |
|
| 25 |
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. |
But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. |
|
| 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 vain. |
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. |
|
| 27 |
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. |
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. |
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| Verse |
King James Version |
New International Version |
Note |
|---|
| 1 |
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. |
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. |
|
| 2 |
For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; |
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. |
|
| 3 |
And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: |
If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," |
|
| 4 |
Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? |
have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? |
|
| 5 |
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? |
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? |
|
| 6 |
But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? |
But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? |
|
| 7 |
Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? |
Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? |
|
| 8 |
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: |
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. |
|
| 9 |
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. |
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. |
|
| 10 |
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. |
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. |
|
| 11 |
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. |
For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. |
|
| 12 |
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. |
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, |
|
| 13 |
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. |
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! |
|
| 14 |
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? |
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? |
|
| 15 |
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, |
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. |
|
| 16 |
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? |
If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? |
|
| 17 |
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. |
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. |
|
| 18 |
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. |
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. |
|
| 19 |
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. |
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. |
|
| 20 |
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? |
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? |
|
| 21 |
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? |
Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? |
|
| 22 |
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? |
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. |
|
| 23 |
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. |
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. |
|
| 24 |
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. |
You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. |
|
| 25 |
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? |
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? |
|
| 26 |
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. |
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. |
|
| Verse |
King James Version |
New International Version |
Note |
|---|
| 1 |
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. |
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. |
|
| 2 |
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. |
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. |
|
| 3 |
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. |
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. |
|
| 4 |
Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. |
Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. |
|
| 5 |
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! |
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. |
|
| 6 |
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. |
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. |
|
| 7 |
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: |
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, |
|
| 8 |
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. |
but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. |
|
| 9 |
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. |
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. |
|
| 10 |
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. |
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. |
|
| 11 |
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? |
Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? |
|
| 12 |
Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. |
My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. |
|
| 13 |
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. |
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. |
|
| 14 |
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. |
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. |
|
| 15 |
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. |
Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. |
|
| 16 |
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. |
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. |
|
| 17 |
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. |
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. |
|
| 18 |
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. |
Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. |
|
| Verse |
King James Version |
New International Version |
Note |
|---|
| 1 |
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? |
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? |
|
| 2 |
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. |
You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. |
|
| 3 |
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. |
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. |
|
| 4 |
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. |
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. |
|
| 5 |
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? |
Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? |
|
| 6 |
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. |
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." |
|
| 7 |
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. |
Submit yourselves, then, 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 double minded. |
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. |
|
| 9 |
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. |
Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. |
|
| 10 |
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. |
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. |
|
| 11 |
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. |
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. |
|
| 12 |
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? |
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor? |
|
| 13 |
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: |
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." |
|
| 14 |
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. |
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. |
|
| 15 |
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. |
Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." |
|
| 16 |
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. |
As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. |
|
| 17 |
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. |
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. |
|
| Verse |
King James Version |
New International Version |
Note |
|---|
| 1 |
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. |
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. |
|
| 2 |
Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. |
Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. |
|
| 3 |
Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. |
Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. |
|
| 4 |
Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. |
Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. |
|
| 5 |
Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. |
You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. |
|
| 6 |
Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. |
You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you. |
|
| 7 |
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. |
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. |
|
| 8 |
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. |
You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. |
|
| 9 |
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. |
Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! |
|
| 10 |
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. |
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. |
|
| 11 |
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. |
As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. |
|
| 12 |
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. |
Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned. |
|
| 13 |
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. |
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. |
|
| 14 |
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: |
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. |
|
| 15 |
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. |
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. |
|
| 16 |
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. |
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. |
|
| 17 |
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. |
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. |
|
| 18 |
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. |
Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. |
|
| 19 |
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; |
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, |
|
| 20 |
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. |
remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. |
|
