²⁵But whoso ^mlooketh into the perfect ⁿlaw of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful ^hhearer, but ^ha doer of the work, this man shall be ^oblessed in his ^||deed. ²⁶If any man among you ^pseem to be religious, and ^qbridleth not ^rhis tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s ^sreligion is vain. ²⁷Pure ^sreligion and undefiled before ^tGod and the Father is this, To ^uvisit ^vthe ^wfatherless and ^vwidows in their affliction, and ^xto keep himself ^yunspotted from the world.

Read in Logos

James 1:27: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Footnotes

nch. 2:12. So Gal. 5:1. See John 8:32.
hSee Rom. 2:13.
hSee Rom. 2:13.
oSee Luke 11:28.
||Or, doing.
pSee Heb. 4:1.
qch. 3:2. So ch. 3:3.
rSee Ps. 34:12, 13. & 141:3. & ch. 3:6.
t Eph. 5:20. Col. 2:2. Gk. as 1 Cor. 15:24. ch. 3:9.
w John 14:18 marg.
x 1 Tim. 5:22. 1 John 5:18. So Rom. 12:2. ch. 4:4.

Cross references

m 1 Pet. 1:12.
s Acts 26:5.
s Acts 26:5.
u Ecclus. 7:35. Matt. 25:36.
v Job 31:17, 18. Isai. 1:17. Ecclus. 4:10. 2 Macc. 3:10. & 8:28, 30.
v Job 31:17, 18. Isai. 1:17. Ecclus. 4:10. 2 Macc. 3:10. & 8:28, 30.
y 2 Pet. 3:14.

Public Domain

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

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

CSBChristian Standard Bible

But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself. Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

NLTNew Living Translation

But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues to do it, not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks he is religious, although he does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.