James 1:19–27

Hearing and Doing the Word

¹⁹You 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.^*

²²But 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 themselves^d in a mirror;^{* 24}for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵But 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.^*

²⁶If 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.^*