I
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
6But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
8Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
9Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
10But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
10But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
11For 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.
11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
12Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
14but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16Do not err, my beloved brethren.
16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.
17Every 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.
17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
19My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
20because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23For 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:
23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
II
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
1My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
2For 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;
2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.
3And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"
4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
7Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.
9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
11For he who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
16If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
20You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
21Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
24You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
III
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
1Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
2We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
4Behold 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.
4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
5Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
6And 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.
6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,
8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness.
10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
12My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But 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.
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
IV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?
2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
2You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."
7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
11Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
11Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
12There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."
14Whereas ye 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.
14Why, you 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.
15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."
16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
16As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.
17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
17If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.
V
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
1Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
1Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
3Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
4Behold, 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 which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
4Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
5Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
6Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
6You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
7Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
7Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
8Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.
9Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
9Don't grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
10Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
11As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12But 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 ye fall into condemnation.
12Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple "Yes" or "No." Otherwise you will be condemned.
13Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
13Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
14Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17Elias 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.
17Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
19My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back,
20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.