with such sacrifices God is | Shepherd of the sheep, even well pleased. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them for they keep watch on behalf of your souls, as having to give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with lamentation, for that is unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, desiring in all things to behave ourselves with seemliness. 19 But I the more abundantly exhort you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 But the God of peace, that brought up from the dead, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, the great our Lord Jesus, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, doing in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. 22 But I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of my exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. 23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty: with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. 24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They from Italy salute you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord. 8 He is a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother who is low glory in his exaltation : 10 But the rich [glorieth] in his humiliation: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. II For the sun arose with its heat, and dried up the grass, and the flower thereof fell away, and the beauty of the form of it perished: so also shall the rich man wither in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which 'He promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God for God is unversed in evil, and he tempteth no man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then lust having conceived, bringeth forth sin: and sin, when finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift cometh down from above, from the Father of the lights of heaven, with whom is no variableness or shadow of turning. 1 The Lord, which is very variously read by those MSS. that contain it, is omitted altogether by the two oldest MSS. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 Because if any is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man contemplating his natural face in a glass: 24 For he contemplateth himself, and departeth, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso hath looked into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you thinketh that he is religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before Him who is our God and Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction; to keep himself unspotted from the world. CHAPTER II. offended in one point, hath MY brethren, have not the become guilty of all. faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there have come unto your assembly a with gold rings, in gay clothing, man and there have come in also a 1 4 Is not this to doubt within yourselves, and to become judges, of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Did not God choose out the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? oppress 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not the rich you, and is it not they which draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Is it not they which blaspheme the goodly name by the which ye were called? 8 Yet if ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever 3hath kept the whole law, and yet 3hath 1 Unto him is omitted by all the oldest MSS. 2 So all the MSS. 3 So all the oldest MSS. II For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not commit murder. Now if thou committest no adultery, if thou committest murder, yet thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as being about to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For the judgment shall be without mercy to him that wrought not mercy: 4mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14 What is the profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can his faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, be 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what is the profit? 17 So also faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. 18 But a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that "God is one; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O 4 And is omitted by the oldest MSS. 5 Thy is omitted by the oldest MSS. and versions. 6 So the most ancient MSS.: others read as A. V. vain man, that faith without | are turned about with a very works is idle? small rudder, whithersoever the desire of the helmsman willeth. 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works faith was made perfect; 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness and he was called God's friend. 24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 And in like manner was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she received the messengers, and thrust them forth another way? 26 For as the body without spirit is dead, so faith without its works is dead also. CHAPTER III. Y brethren, be not many My teachers, knowing that we shall receive greater condemnation. 2 For oftentimes we all offend. If any man offendeth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 2But if in the mouths of horses we put bits, that they may obey us; we turn about also their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, though they be so great, and are driven by fierce winds, yet 1 Then is omitted by all the oldest MSS. 2 So all the oldest MSS 5 So also the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a forest is kindled by how small a fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, that world of iniquity: the tongue is that one among our members, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every nature of beasts, and winged things, and of creeping things, and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by the nature of man: ; 8 But the tongue can no one of men ever tame it is a restless mischief; it is full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and theremade after the similitude of with curse we men, which are God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. II Doth a fountain send forth out of the same clift the sweet and the bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olives? or a vine, figs? neither can salt water bring forth sweet. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of his good conduct his works in meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and rivalry in your heart, boast not against and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not one descending from above, but earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and rivalry is, there is confusion and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily persuaded, full of compassion and good fruits, without doubting, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by them that work peace. CHAPTER IV. ROM whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not ye commit murder, and ye envy, and cannot obtain: ye fight and make war. 1Ye have not, because ye ask not: 3 Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your lusts. 4 Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity to God? whosoever therefore will be friend of the world becometh an enemy of God. a 5 Or do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The 1 Thus all the MSS. 2 Adulterers and is omitted by all the oldest MSS. The figure is that well-known one of God being husband of the soul, and departure from Him being adultery. Spirit that he placed in us jealously desireth us? 6 But he giveth the greater grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God: but resist the devil, and he shall flee from you: 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Purify your hands, ye sinners, and make chaste your hearts, ye doubleminded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into humiliation. 10 Be humbled before the Lord, and he will exalt you. II Speak not one against another, brethren: he that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 One is the lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and destroy but thou, who art thou that judgest thy neighbour? : 13 Go to now, ye that say, To-day, or to-morrow, we will go into this city, and will spend there one year, and will traffic and get gain; 14 (Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? For ye are a vapour, which appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.) 15 Instead of your saying, 3 So all the oldest MSS. 4 So (probably) all the oldest MSS. |