James 1 – NIV & CCB

New International Version

James 1:1-27

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19. whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Listening and Doing

19My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)

雅各书 1:1-27

1我是做上帝和主耶稣基督奴仆的雅各,问候散居各地的十二支派的人。

信心和忍耐

2我的弟兄姊妹,当你们遭遇各种磨炼的时候,都要认为是喜乐的事。 3要知道你们的信心经过考验会产生坚忍。 4你们要坚忍到底,使你们纯全、完备、毫无缺欠。

5如果你们谁缺少智慧,就当求慷慨施恩、不责备人的上帝,上帝必赐给他智慧。 6-8但他要凭信心毫不疑惑地祈求,因为疑惑的人三心二意,行事为人没有定见,就像海上随风翻腾的波涛,这种人从主那里什么也得不到。

9卑微的弟兄高升,应当快乐。 10富有的弟兄降卑,也要快乐,因为他会像花草一样衰残。 11骄阳升起,草就干枯,花也凋谢,美丽就消失了。富有的人在忙忙碌碌中也会如此衰残。

12在试炼中能够忍耐到底的人有福了,因为他若经得起考验,就会得到主应许赐给爱祂之人的生命冠冕。 13当人受到诱惑时,不可说:“是上帝在诱惑我。”因为上帝不受邪恶的诱惑,也不诱惑人。 14其实每个受到诱惑的人都是受自己的私欲怂恿和诱惑。 15私欲怀了胎,便生出罪,罪一旦长成,便带来死亡。

16我亲爱的弟兄姊妹,不要上当受骗。 17一切良善的施予和完美的恩赐都是从天上,从众光之父那里来的。祂不像转动的影子变幻无常。 18祂按照自己的旨意,借着真道重生了我们,使我们在祂所造的万物之中好像初熟的果实。

听道与行道

19我亲爱的弟兄姊妹,请记住:每个人都要快快地听,慢慢地说,慢慢地动怒。 20因为人的愤怒不能成就上帝的公义。 21所以你们要除去所有的污秽和一切的恶习,谦卑地领受那已经栽种在你们心里、能救你们灵魂的真道。

22你们要行道,不要只是听道,自己欺骗自己。 23因为人听道而不行道,就像照镜子一样, 24看过后就走了,随即忘记了自己的容貌。 25但详细查考那使人得自由的全备律法并且持之以恒的人,不是听了就忘,而是身体力行,这样的人必在他所行的事上蒙福。

26如果有人自以为虔诚,却不勒住自己的舌头,就等于是自己欺骗自己,他的所谓虔诚也毫无价值。 27在父上帝看来,纯洁无暇的虔诚是指照顾患难中的孤儿寡妇,并且不让自己被世俗玷污。