James (Yaaqov)

JAMES

1

A76James (Yaaqov), a servant of God (Elohim) and of the Lord (Adonai) YHWH haMashiach, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God (Elohim, יהוה (YHWH)), that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of God (Elohim, יהוה (YHWH)).

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted;

10 But the rich, in that he is made low; because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth; so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord (YHWH) hath promised to them that love Him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted of God (Elohim);” for God (Elohim, יהוה (YHWH)) cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man;

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

18 Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God (Elohim, יהוה (YHWH)).

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass;

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect B28aLaw (Torah) of liberty (which gives freedom), and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. – Psa. 19:7

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before יהוה (YHWH) the Father is this: “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

2

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord (Adonai) YHWH haMashiach, Lord (Adon) of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3 And you have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, “Sit you here in a good place;” and say to the poor, “Stand you there, or sit here under my footstool;”

4 Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God (Elohim, יהוה (YHWH)) chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?

6 But you have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called?

8 If you fulfil the royal Law (Torah) according to the scripture, “You shalt love your neighbour as yourself,” you do well; – Lev. 19:18

9 But if you have respect to persons (show partiality), you commit sin, and are convicted by the Law (Torah) as transgressors.

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole Law (Torah), and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, “Do not commit adultery,” said also, “Do not kill.” Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the Law (Torah). – Exo. 20:13, Deu. 5:17

12 So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the Law (Torah) of liberty (which gives freedom).

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

14 What doth it profits, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, “Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled;” notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profits?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, “You have faith, and I have works; shew me your faith without your works, and I will shew you my faith by my works.

19 You believest that there is one God (Elohim); you doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble. – Deu. 6:4

20 But wilt you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Avraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac (Yitschaq) his son upon the altar?

22 Seest you how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, “Avraham believed יהוה (YHWH), and it was imputed unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of יהוה (YHWH). – Gen. 15:6, Isa. 41:8, 2 Chro. 20:7

24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

3

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offends not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind;

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we יהוה (YHWH) our Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the similitude of God (Elohim). – Gen 1:26-27

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain sends forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

4

From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

2 You lust, and have not; you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain; you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not.

3 You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God (Elohim, יהוה (YHWH))? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God (Elohim, יהוה (YHWH).

5 Do you think that the scripture saith in vain, “The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”

6 But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, “יהוה (YHWH) resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” – Prov. 3:34

7 Submit yourselves therefore to יהוה (YHWH). Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw near to יהוה (YHWH), and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of יהוה (YHWH) and He shall lift you up.

11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the Torah, and judgeth the Torah; but if you judge the Torah, you are not a doer of the Torah, but a judge.

12 There is one giver of Torah, who is able to save and to destroy; who are you that judgest another?

13 Go to now, you that say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain;”

14 Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

15 For that you ought to say, “If יהוה (YHWH) will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

16 But now you rejoice in your boastings; all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

5

Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it was fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth; and the cries of them who have reaped are entered into the ears of יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot).

5 You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; you have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

6 You have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of יהוה (YHWH). Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. – Deu. 11:14; Jer. 5:24; Joel 2:23

8 Be you also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of יהוה (YHWH) draweth near.

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest you be condemned; behold, the judge standeth before the door.

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of יהוה (YHWH), for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 Behold, we count them happy who endure. You have heard of the patience of Job (Iyov), and have seen the final outcome of the Lord (Adonai) that יהוה (YHWH) is very compassionate, and of tender mercy. – Exo. 34:6; Psa. 103:8; 111:4

12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath; but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest you fall into condemnation.

13 Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.

14 Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the assembly; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of יהוה (YHWH);

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and יהוה (YHWH) shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

17 Elijah (Eliyahu) was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

20 Let him know, that he who converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins. – Prov. 10:12