1:1 James, a slave of Elohim and of the LORD Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes that are scattered abroad, greeting.^1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you are encompassed into various sorts of trials;^1:3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works endurance.^1:4 But let endurance have its finished work, that you may be brought to its end and complete, in nothing lacking.^1:5 If any of you are destitute of wisdom (Sophia), let him ask of Elohim, that gives to all men openly and upbraids not; and it will be given him.^1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.^1:7 For let not man think that he will receive anything of the LORD.^1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.^1:9 Let the brother of low degree glory in that he is given a high station.^1:10 But the wealthy, in that he is given a low estate: because as the flower of the grass he will pass away.^1:11 Because the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower falls to the ground and the beautiful appearance of its looks perishes: so also will the wealthy man perish in his pursuits.^1:12 Blessed is the man that endures testing: for when he is accepted, he will lay hold of an exalted rank of life that the LORD has promised to them that love him.^1:13 Let no one say, being tested; from Elohim I am tested, for Elohim is not tested of bad, and himself does not test anyone,^1:14 but everyone is tested when he is drawn away by his own lust and baited.^1:15 Then when lust has taken one prisoner, it gives birth to sin: and sin, when it is accomplished, gives birth to death.^1:16 Do not sin my esteemed brethren.^1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from the Higher Place, and comes down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no change, neither shadow of turning.^1:18 Of his own will he gendered us with the Word of Truth, that we should be some of the first-fruits of his created things.^1:19 Therefore, my esteemed brethren, let every human being be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger:^1:20 Because the anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of Elohim.^1:21 Therefore put aside all filthiness and abundance of ill-will, and take up with meekness the inborn Word, that is able to save your lives.^1:22 But be you authors of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.^1:23 Because if any are a hearer of the Word, and not an author, he is likened to a man looking at his natural face in a glass:^1:24 For he looks at himself, then goes his way and instantly forgets what quality of man he was.^1:25 But whoever looks into the perfect Law of Liberty and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but an author of the work, this man will be blessed in his doing.^1:26 If anyone among you thinks to be worshipping Elohim but bridles not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's worshipping of Elohim is devoid of force.^1:27 Clean external worship and not defiled before Elohim and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

2:1 My brethren, do not (with respect for persons) be holding the Faith our LORD Jesus Christ (the LORD OF GLORY).^2:2 Because if there comes to your synagogue a person with a gold ring, in splendid clothing, and there comes in also a poor person in dirty clothing;^2:3 And you have respect to those that wears the splendid clothing, and say to them, you sit here in a good place; and say to the poor, you stand there, or sit here under my footstool:^2:4 Are you not then discriminating in yourselves, and are become judges of bad thoughts?^2:5 Listen my esteemed brethren, has not Elohim chosen the poor of this world, wealthy in Faith and heirs of the Kingdom that he has promised to them that love him? ^2:6 But you have insulted the poor. Do not wealthy men oppress you and draw you before the judgment seats? ^2:7 Do they not blaspheme that excellent Name by which you are called?^2:8 If you fulfill the Royal Law according to the Scripture, You will Love your neighbor as yourself, you do nobly:^2:9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convicted under the Law as a lawbreaker.^2:10 Because whoever will observe the whole Law, and still offend in one point, he is guilty of all.^2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not murder. Now if you commit no adultery, still if you murder, you are become a lawbreaker of the Law.^2:12 So speak you and so act, as they that will be judged by the Law of Liberty.^2:13 Because he will have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy; for mercy exults over judgment.^2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has Faith, and has not works? can Faith save him?^2:15 If a brother or sister is naked, and destitute of daily food,^2:16 and one of you says to them, depart in peace, be yourselves warmed and filled; but you give them nothing of those things that are needful to the body; what does it profit?^2:17 Even so Faith, if it has not works, is dead, being devoid of Life.^2:18 Yes, a person may say, you have Faith, and I have works: show me your Faith without your works, and I will show you my Faith by my works.^2:19 You believe that there is one Elohim; you do well: the evil spirits also believe, and tremble.^2:20 But will you know, O human being, devoid of Truth, that Faith without works is dead?^2:21 Was not Abraham our forefather rendered righteous by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the Altar?^2:22 Do you see that the Faith was working with his works, and out of the works the Faith was perfected?^2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed Elohim, and it was imputed to him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of Elohim.^2:24 You see then how that by works a person is rendered righteous, and not by Faith only.^2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot rendered righteous by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?^2:26 Because as the body without its silver cord is dead, so Faith without works is dead also.

3:1 My brethren, be not many of you teachers, knowing that we will receive the greater judgment.^3:2 For we all make many stumbles; if anyone in word does not stumble, this one is a finished man, able to bridle also the whole body.^3:3 Look, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.^3:4 Observe, also the ships, being so great, and by fierce winds being driven, are led about by a very small helm, where the impulse of the helmsman does guide it,^3:5 even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles!^3:6 And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by the Gehenna.^3:7 Because every kind of animal, birds, snakes, and of things in the sea are tamed, and has been tamed by mankind:^3:8 But the tongue can no one tame; it is an unruly wrong, full of deadly poison.^3:9 With it we bless Elohim, even the Father; and with it we curse men, that are made after the likeness of Elohim.^3:10 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things should not be so.^3:11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter water?^3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? or a vine figs? So no fountain can yield both saltwater and fresh.^3:13 Who is a wise one and endued with knowledge among you? Let them show out of a good conduct their works with meekness of wisdom.^3:14 And if bitter zeal you have, and rivalry in your heart, glory not, nor lie against the Truth.^3:15 This wisdom (sophia) descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, demon- like.^3:16 Because where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every worthless matter.^3:17 But the Wisdom (Sophia) that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without ambiguity, and without hypocrisy.^3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

4:1 From where come wars and fighting's among you? Do they not originate from your pleasures that war in your body? ^4:2 You lust after and have not, you kill and desire to have but cannot obtain: you fight and war, still you have not, because you ask not.^4:3 You ask and receive not, because you ask amiss so that you may consume it upon your desires for pleasure.^4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that the friendship of the world is enmity with Elohim? whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of Elohim.^4:5 Do you suppose that the Scripture declares in vain, The desires that live in us lust to envy?^4:6 But he gives more Grace. Therefore he says, Elohim resists the proud but gives Grace to the humble.^4:7 Subject yourselves therefore to Elohim. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.^4:8 Draw close to Elohim, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners; and purify your hearts you double- minded.^4:9 Endure hardships and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to dejection.^4:10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the LORD and he will lift you up.^4:11 Speak not one against another brethren; he who is speaking against a brother, and is judging his brother, does speak against law, and does judge law, and if law you do judge, you are not an author of law but a judge.^4:12 There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy: who are you that judges another? ^4:13 Come on now, you that say, today or tomorrow we will go to such a city and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:^4:14 Whereas you do not know what will take place the next day. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.^4:15 For what you should be saying is, if the LORD will, we will live and do this or that.^4:16 But now you rejoice in your braggart talking but all such rejoicing is bad.^4:17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.

5:1 Come now you wealthy ones, weep and howl at the calamity that will come upon you.^5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.^5:3 Your gold and silver is covered with rust and the corrosion of them will be a witness against you, and will eat your flesh as it were fire. You have stored up treasure for the Last Days.^5:4 Look, the reward of the workmen, of those who in-gathered your fields, that have been fraudulently kept back by you, do cry out, and the exclamations of those who did reap have entered the ears of the LORD of Sabaoth.^5:5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and have lived a voluptuous life; you have fattened your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.^5:6 You have condemned and killed the righteous, and he does not resist you.^5:7 Be patient therefore brethren, unto the coming of the LORD. Behold, the Vine Dresser awaits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.^5:8 Be also patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the LORD approaches.^5:9 Groan not one against another brethren, unless you be condemned: look, the Judge stands before the door.^5:10 Lay hold of my brethren, the Prophets, who have spoken in the Name of the LORD, for an example of suffering evil and of patience.^5:11 See, we pronounce them blessed that endure. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and have seen the end of the LORD; that the LORD is very kind and merciful.^5:12 But above all things my brethren, swear not, neither by the cosmos, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yes be yes; and your no be no; unless you fall into acting like a stage player.^5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him offer prayers. Is any gladdened? let him sing to the music! ^5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the ekklesia; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the LORD^:5:15 And the prayer of Faith will restore the sick, and the LORD will raise him up; and if he has produced sins, they will depart from him.^5:16 Confess your lapses from the Truth to one another, and pray one for another that you may be healed. The operative entreating of a righteous man avails much.^5:17 Elijah was a man with the same affections as we are, and he offered a prayer addressing Elohim that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth for a period of 3 1/2 years.^5:18 And he prayed again, and the skies gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.^5:19 Brethren, if any of you do stray from the Truth, and one converts him;^5:20 Let him know that he who converts the sinner from the error of his way will save a life from death, and will veil a multitude of sins.

Copyright 2001 Dallas E. James