Greetings from James

(Jude 1:1-2)

1James, of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ a servant, to the Twelve Tribes who are in the dispersion: Hail!

Rejoicing in Trials

(Philippians 1:12-20)

2All joy count it, my brethren, when ye may fall into temptations manifold; 3knowing that the proof of your faith doth work endurance, 4and let the endurance have a perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire -- in nothing lacking;

5and if any of you do lack wisdom, let him ask from God, who is giving to all liberally, and not reproaching, and it shall be given to him; 6and let him ask in faith, nothing doubting, for he who is doubting hath been like a wave of the sea, driven by wind and tossed, 7for let not that man suppose that he shall receive anything from the Lord -- 8a two-souled man is unstable in all his ways.

Contrast of the Rich and Poor

9And let the brother who is low rejoice in his exaltation, 10and the rich in his becoming low, because as a flower of grass he shall pass away; 11for the sun did rise with the burning heat, and did wither the grass, and the flower of it fell, and the grace of its appearance did perish, so also the rich in his way shall fade away!

12Happy the man who doth endure temptation, because, becoming approved, he shall receive the crown of the life, which the Lord did promise to those loving Him.

Perseverance in Temptation

13Let no one say, being tempted -- 'From God I am tempted,' for God is not tempted of evil, and Himself doth tempt no one, 14and each one is tempted, by his own desires being led away and enticed, 15afterward the desire having conceived, doth give birth to sin, and the sin having been perfected, doth bring forth death. 16Be not led astray, my brethren beloved; 17every good giving, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom is no variation, or shadow of turning; 18having counselled, He did beget us with a word of truth, for our being a certain first-fruit of His creatures.

Hearing and Doing

19So then, my brethren beloved, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20for the wrath of a man the righteousness of God doth not work; 21wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls; 22and become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves, 23because, if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one hath been like to a man viewing his natural face in a mirror, 24for he did view himself, and hath gone away, and immediately he did forget of what kind he was; 25and he who did look into the perfect law -- that of liberty, and did continue there, this one -- not a forgetful hearer becoming, but a doer of work -- this one shall be happy in his doing.

26If any one doth think to be religious among you, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, of this one vain is the religion; 27religion pure and undefiled with the God and Father is this, to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation -- unspotted to keep himself from the world.