James Chapter III.

[1 We must not rashly or arrogantly reprove others. 2 The importance of 
governing the tongue. 13 How true wisdom will manifest itself, in opposition 
to strife and envy.]

MY brethren, be not many masters, knowing that 
we shall receive the greater condemnation. 
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. 
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that 
they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 
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.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and 
boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter 
a little fire kindleth!
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. 
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and 
of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, an 
hath been tamed, of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly 
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. 
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and 
cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place 
sweet water and bitter? 
12 Can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olive-berries?
either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield
salt water and fresh. 
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge 
among you? let him shew out of a good conversation 
of his works with meekness of wisdom. 
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in 
your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but 
is earthly, sensual, devilish. 
16 For where envying and strife is, there is 
confusion, and every evil work. 
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first 
pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated,
full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, 
and without hypocrisy. 
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in 
peace of them that make peace. 

James Chapter II.

[ 1 We must not regard the rich, and despise the poor. 10 The guilt of any
one breach of the law. 17 Faith without works is dead.]



MY brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of 
persons. 
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;
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:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are 
become judges of 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?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich 
men oppress you, and draw you before the judgement
seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by
the which ye are called?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye 
do well:
9 But if ye respect to persons, ye commit 
sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and 
yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 
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 are become a transgressor 
of the law. 
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be 
judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy
that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth
against judgment. 
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a 
man say he hath faith, and have not works? can 
faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute 
of 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?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, 
being alone. 
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. 
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou 
doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith 
without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works,
when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, 
and by works was faith made perfect?
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
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, 
and not by faith only. 
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified
by works, when she had received the messengers,
and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so 
faith without works is dead also. 

The General Epistle of James Chapter I.

[The apostle's address: he exhorteth to patience in affliction, 6 to pray in faith. 14 Our lusts tempt us to sin.]

JAMES, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus
Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered 
abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into 
divers temptations; 
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith 
worketh patience. 
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye 
may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 
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. 
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. 
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive 
any thing of the Lord. 
8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. 
9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that 
he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because 
as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 
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. 
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: 
for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown life, 
which the Lord hath promised to them that 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:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn 
away of his own lust, and enticed. 
15 Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth
forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth 
death. 
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 
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. 
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of 
truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of 
his creatures. 
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every 
man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worth not the righteousness 
of God. 
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, and superfluity 
of naughtiness and receive with meekness the 
ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers 
only, deceiving your own selves 
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:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and 
straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of 
liberty, and continuity therein, he being not a forgetful 
hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall 
be blessed in his deed. 
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. 
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.