Service Well-Pleasing to God

13 Let mutual affection continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.* 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them, those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.w 4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.* 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”* 6 So we can say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper;

I will not be afraid.

What can anyone do to me?”

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food,x which have not benefited those who observe them.* 10 We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tenty have no right to eat.* 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.* 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.* 13 Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.* 15 Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.* 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing, for that would be harmful to you.*

18 Pray for us; we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.* 19 I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you very soon.

Benediction

20 Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,* 21 make you complete in everything goodz so that you may do his will, as he works among usa that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever.b Amen.*

Final Exhortation and Greetings

22 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been set free, and if he comes in time he will be with me when I see you.* 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you.c,*

The Letter of

James

Salutation

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the dispersion:

Greetings.

Faith and Wisdom

2 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy,* 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.* 6 But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.* 7 ,8 For the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Poverty and Riches

9 Let the brother or sister of humble means boast in having a high position 10 and the rich in having been humbled, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field.* 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.

Trial and Temptation

12 Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lorda has promised to those who love him.* 13 No one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. 14 But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when desire has conceived, it engenders sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.*

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.b,* 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave birth to us by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.*

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger,* 20 for human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.c 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.*

22 But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.* 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselvesd in a mirror;* 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.*

26 If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.* 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.*

Warning against Partiality

2 My brothers and sisters, do not claim the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory while showing partiality.* 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here in a good place, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit by my footstool,”* 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?* 6 But you have dishonored the poor person. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into the courts?* 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.* 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.* 11 For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but you murder, you have become a transgressor ofe the law.* 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.* 13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.*

Faith without Works Is Dead

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it?* 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food* 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from works, and I by my works will show you faith.* 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.* 20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is worthless?f 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?* 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and by works faith was brought to completion.* 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,”g and he was called the friend of God.* 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengersh and sent them out by another road?* 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.