2Count it all joy, my brothers,[2] when you meet trials of various kinds, (Mt 5:12; 1Pe 1:6)3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (Ro 5:3; Heb 10:36; Jas 5:11; 1Pe 1:7; 2Pe 1:6)4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (Mt 5:48; 1Th 5:23)5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (1Ki 3:9; Pr 2:3; Pr 28:5; Mt 7:7)6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (Isa 57:20; Mt 21:21; Mr 11:24; Eph 4:14)7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (Jas 4:8; 2Pe 2:14; 2Pe 3:16)9Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,10and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass[3] he will pass away. (Ps 102:4; Ps 102:11; Jer 9:23; 1Co 7:31; 1Pe 1:24)11For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. (Isa 40:7)12Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (Da 12:12; Mt 10:22; 1Co 9:25; 2Ti 4:8; Jas 2:5; Jas 5:11; 1Pe 3:14; 1Pe 5:4; Re 2:10; Re 3:11)13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (Job 15:35; Ps 7:14; Isa 59:4; Ro 5:12; Ro 6:23)16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[4] (Ps 85:12; Mal 3:6; Joh 3:27; 1Co 4:7; 1Jo 1:5)18Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (Jer 2:3; Joh 1:13; Ro 8:19; Ga 4:19; Eph 1:12; 1Pe 1:3; 1Pe 1:23; Re 14:4)
Hearing and Doing the Word
19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; (Pr 10:19; Pr 14:29; Pr 17:27; Ec 5:1; 1Jo 2:21)20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.21Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (1Co 15:2; Eph 1:13; Col 3:8; Jas 3:13)22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (Mt 7:21; Mt 7:24; Lu 8:21; Joh 13:17; Ro 2:13; Jas 2:14)23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.24For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.25But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (Ps 1:1; Lu 11:28; Joh 8:32; Ga 2:4; Ga 5:1; Ga 5:13; Jas 2:12; 1Pe 2:16; 2Pe 2:19)26If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. (Ps 34:13; Ps 39:1; Ps 141:3; Ac 26:5; Jas 3:2; Jas 3:6)27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (Job 31:17; Isa 1:17; Isa 1:23; Mt 25:36; 1Ti 5:22; 2Pe 3:14; 1Jo 5:18)
12Блажен онзи човек, който устоява на изкушение; защото като бъде одобрен, ще приеме за корона живота, който Господ е обещал на онези, които Го обичат. (Job 5:17; Pr 3:11; Pr 3:12; Mt 10:22; Mt 19:28; Mt 19:29; 1Co 9:25; 2Ti 4:8; Heb 12:5; Jas 2:5; 1Pe 5:4; Re 2:10; Re 3:19)13Никой, който бива изкушаван, да не казва: Бог ме изкушава, защото Бог не се изкушава от зло и Той никого не изкушава. (Lu 11:4)14А всеки се изкушава, като се завлича и подлъгва от собствената си страст;15и тогава страстта зачева и ражда грях, а грехът, като се развие напълно, ражда смърт. (Job 15:35; Ps 7:14; Ro 6:21; Ro 6:23)16Не се заблуждавайте, любезни мои братя!17Всяко дадено добро и всеки съвършен дар е отгоре и слиза от Отца на светлините, у Когото няма изменение или сянка от промяна. (Nu 23:19; 1Sa 15:29; Isa 46:10; Mal 3:6; Joh 3:27; Ro 11:29; 1Co 4:7)18От собствената Си воля ни е родил чрез словото на истината, за да бъдем един вид пръв плод на Неговите създания. (Jer 2:3; Joh 1:13; Joh 3:3; 1Co 4:15; Eph 1:12; Heb 2:3; Heb 12:23; 1Pe 1:23; Re 14:4)
Слушатели и последователи на учението
19Вие знаете това, възлюбени мои братя. Обаче нека всеки човек бъде бърз да слуша, бавен да говори и бавен да се гневи; (Pr 10:19; Pr 14:17; Pr 17:27; Ec 5:1; Ec 5:2; Ec 7:9)20защото човешкият гняв не върши Божията правда.21Затова, като отхвърлите всяка нечистота и преливаща се злоба, приемайте с кротост всаденото слово, което може да спаси душите ви.22Бъдете и изпълнители на словото, а не само слушатели, да лъжете себе си. (Mt 7:21; Lu 6:46; Lu 11:28; Ro 2:13; 1Jo 3:7)23Защото ако някой бъде слушател на словото, а не изпълнител, той прилича на човек, който гледа естественото си лице в огледалото; (Lu 6:47; Jas 2:14)24понеже се оглежда, отива си и веднага забравя какъв е бил.25Но който вникне в съвършения закон на свободата и постоянства, като не е слушател, който забравя, а деен изпълнител, ще бъде блажен в дейността си. (Joh 13:17; 2Co 3:18; Jas 2:12)26Ако някой смята себе си за благочестив, а не обуздава езика си, но мами сърцето си, неговото благочестие е суетно. (Ps 34:13; Ps 34:14; Ps 39:1; Ps 39:2; 1Pe 3:10)27Чисто и непорочно благочестие пред Бога и Отца е това: да се грижи човек за сирачетата и вдовиците в неволята им и да пази себе си неопетнен от света. (Isa 1:16; Isa 1:17; Isa 58:6; Isa 58:7; Mt 25:36; Ro 12:2; Jas 2:17; 1Jo 5:18)