James 1:2–18

Faith and Wisdom

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

⁵If 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},⁸For the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Poverty and Riches

⁹Let the brother or sister of humble means boast in having a high position ¹⁰and 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

¹²Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord^a 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. ¹⁴But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; ¹⁵then, when desire has conceived, it engenders sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.^*

¹⁶Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. ¹⁷Every 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.^*