1 JAMES, a servant of God 1 Gr. bond- | perisheth: so also shall tho 2 and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, 2 greeting. servant. 2 Gr. wish- Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into mani- 3 Or, trials 3 fold temptations; knowing that the proof of your faith 4 Or, that 4 worketh patience. And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall 6 be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven 7 by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think 4 that he shall receive any thing of 8 the Lord; a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways. But let the brother of low degree glory in his high es10 tate: and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall 11 pass away. For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass; and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it 9 5 a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways, shall receive any thing of the Lord. Gr. from. 6 Or, is untried in evil 7 Gr. evil things. 8 Or, tempted by his own lust, being drawn away by it, and enticed 9 Or, giving 10 Or, Know ye rich man fade away in his goings. Blessed is the man that en- 12 dureth temptation: for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him. Let no 13 man say when he is tempted, I am tempted 5 of God: for God 6 cannot be tempted with 7 evil, and he himself tempteth no man: but each man is 14 8 tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed. Then the lust, when 15 it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death. Be not deceived, my beloved 16 brethren. Every good 9 gift 17 and every perfect boon is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning. Of his own will he brought us 18 forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 10 Ye know this, my beloved 19 brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrathi 20 of man worketh not the right21 eousness of God. Wherefore putting away all filthiness and Overflowing of 1 wickedness, receive with meekness the 2implanted word, which is able 22 to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your 23 own selves. For if any one is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding 3 his natural 24 face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he 25 was. But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that for getteth, but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed 26 in his doing. If any man 4 thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is 27 vain. Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 2 My brethren, 5 hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect 2 of persons. For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a 1 Or, malice 2 Or, inborn face of his birth. 3 Gr. the 4 Or, seemeth to be 5 Or, do ye, in accepting persons, hold the faith... gloryt 6 Or, assembly 7 Or, do ye not make distinctions 8 Or, among your- 9 Gr.. which was called upon you. world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? But ye have dis- 6 honoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgement-seats? Do not they 7 blaspheme the honourable name 9 by the which ye are called? Howbeit if ye fulfil 8 the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have re- 9 spect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoso- 10 ever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all. For he that said, Do not com- 11 mit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak 12 ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty. For judgement is without 13 mercy to him that hath shewed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgement. What doth it profit, my bre- 14 thren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him? If a 15 brother or sister be naked, and in lack of daily food, and 16 one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and poor man in vile clothing; 10 Or, But filled; and yet ye give them some one will say 11 Some ancient ties read 3 and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my foot4 stool; 7 are ye not divided in your own mind, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved bre-12 Gr. thren; did not God choose demons. them that are poor as to the there is one God. not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it have not 17 works, is dead in itself. 10 Yea, 18 a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will shew thee my faith. Thou be- 19 lievest that 11 God is one; thou doest well: the 12 devils also believe, and shudder. But wilt 20 1 Or, Seest 2 Gr. 3 Or, how 4 Or, a fire, that is among bers that 5 Or, that among bers that thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is bar21 ren? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his 22 son upon the altar? 1Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was 23 faith made perfect; and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. 24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by 25 faith. And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead. 3 Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive 2 heavier judge2 ment. For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a 7 Gr. perfect man, able to bridle 3 the whole body also. Now if we put the horses' bridles into 8 Or, unto their mouths, that they may obey us, we turn about their 4 whole body also. Behold, the ships also, though they are so great, and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steers5 man willeth. So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire: 5 the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on 7 fire by hell. For every kind of beasts and birds, of creep 6 Or, ing things and things in the Who is wise and under- 13 nature. 9 Gr. the 10 Or, 11 Gr. de- 12 Or, 14 Gr. are Whence come wars and 4 whence come fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your pleasures that war in your members? Ye 2 lust, and have not: ye kill, and 14 covet, and cannot obtain ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, be- 3 cause ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures. Ye 4 adulteresses, know ye not that 1 Or, saith in vain, spirit which he made to dwell in us he yearneth for even unto jealous envy. Or, That spirit which he made to dwell in us yearneth for us even unto the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an 5 enemy of God. Or think ye that the scripture 1 speaketh 2 Or, The in vain? 2 Doth the spirit which 3 he made to dwell in 6 us long unto envying? But he giveth 4more grace. Wherefore the scripture saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth 7 grace to the humble. Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will 8 flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your 9 hearts, ye doubleminded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your 10 joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you. 11 jealous envy. 3 Some ancient authorities read dwelleth in us. Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth 4 Gr. a the law but if thou judgest greater the law, thou art not a doer grace. 12 of the law, but a judge. One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neigh- suying. bour? 13 5 Gr. Instead of your 7 Gr. Go to now, ye that say, Today or to-morrow we will go 6 Or, unto into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get 14 gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanish-8 Or, he 15 eth away. 5 For that ye ought presence. to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or 9 Or, en16 that. But now ye glory in durance your vauntings: all such glory17 ing is evil. To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Go to now, ye rich, weep and 5 howl for your miseries that are coming upon you. Your 2 riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver are 3 rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days. Be- 4 hold, the hire of the labourers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived 5 delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure; ye have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter. Ye have con- 6 demned, ye have killed the righteous one; he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, bre- 7 thren, until the 7 coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until sit receive the early and latter rain. Be 8 ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the 7 coming of the Lord is at hand. Murmur not, 9 brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge standeth before the doors. Take, brethren, for an 10 example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call them blessed 11 which endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful. But above all things, my 12 brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the 13 earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgement. Is any among you suffering? let him pray. Is any cheerful? 14 let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, 2 anointing him with oil in the 15 name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be for16 given him. Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. Eli- 17 jah was a man of like 3 passions with us, and he prayed 4 fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again; and the 18 heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. My brethren, if any among 19 you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 5 let him 20 know, that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins. THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. 1 PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, 2 Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God 3 while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold 1temptations, that the proof of your 7 faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, might be the Father, in sanctification of 1 Or, trials found unto praise and glory the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 2 Gr. glorified. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in 3 Gr. unto. 5 heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the 6 last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ: whom not 8 having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and 2 full of glory: receiving 9 the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Con- 10 cerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what 11 time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings 3 of Christ, and the |