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Testing Your Faith

^1 (F1)(C1)James, a ^(C2)bond-servant of God and ^(C3)of the Lord Jesus Christ, To ^(C4)the twelve tribes who are ^(F2)(C5)dispersed abroad: ^(C6)Greetings.

^2 (C1)Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter ^(C2)various ^(F1)trials,³ knowing that ^(C1)the testing of your ^(C2)faith produces ^(F1)(C3)endurance.⁴ And let ^(F1)(C1)endurance have its perfect ^(F2)result, so that you may be ^(F3)(C2)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

⁵ But if any of you ^(C1)lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and ^(F1)without reproach, and ^(C2)it will be given to him.⁶ But he must ^(C1)ask in faith ^(C2)without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, ^(C3)driven and tossed by the wind.⁷ For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,⁸ being a ^(F1)(C1)double-minded man, ^(C2)unstable in all his ways.

^9 (C1)But the ^(F1)brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;¹⁰ and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because ^(C1)like ^(F1)flowering grass he will pass away.¹¹ For the sun rises with ^(F1)(C1)a scorching wind and ^(C2)withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

^12 (C1)Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has ^(F1)been approved, he will receive ^(C2)the crown of life which the Lord ^(C3)has promised to those who ^(C4)love Him.¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, "^(C1)I am being tempted ^(F1)by God"; for God cannot be tempted ^(F2)by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.¹⁵ Then ^(C1)when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when ^(C2)sin ^(F1)is accomplished, it brings forth death.^16 (C1)Do not be ^(F1)deceived, ^(C2)my beloved brethren.¹⁷ Every good thing given and every perfect gift is ^(C1)from above, coming down from ^(C2)the Father of lights, ^(C3)with whom there is no variation or ^(F1)shifting shadow.¹⁸ In the exercise of ^(C1)His will He ^(C2)brought us forth by ^(C3)the word of truth, so that we would be ^(F1)a kind of ^(C4)first fruits ^(F2)among His creatures.

^19 (F1)This ^(C1)you know, ^(C2)my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, ^(C3)slow to speak and ^(C4)slow to anger;²⁰ for ^(C1)the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.²¹ Therefore, ^(C1)putting aside all filthiness and all ^(F1)that remains of wickedness, in ^(F2)humility receive ^(C2)the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.^22 (C1)But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his ^(F1)natural face ^(C1)in a mirror;²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, ^(F1)he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.²⁵ But one who looks intently at the perfect law, ^(C1)the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but ^(F1)an effectual doer, this man will be ^(C2)blessed in ^(F2)what he does.

²⁶ If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not ^(F1)(C1)bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion ^(C1)in the sight of our God and Father is this: to ^(C2)visit ^(C3)orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained ^(F1)by ^(C4)the world.