15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.16If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?17So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

19You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.20O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?21Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?22You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.23And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.24As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Taming the Tongue

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.4Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.5In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.6The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.9With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?12My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

The Wisdom from Above

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

A Warning against Pride

1What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?2You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.3And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.4You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.5Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?

Drawing Near to God

7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it.12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Do Not Boast about Tomorrow

13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.”14You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.15Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”16As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.17Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.

A Warning to the Rich

1Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.2Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes.3Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.4Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.6You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.

Patience in Suffering

7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.8You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

9Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!10Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.11See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

12Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

The Prayer of Faith

13Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.15And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.