By Faith

11 Now faith is the assurance of things ^ohoped for, the conviction of things ^pnot seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that ^qthe universe was created ^rby the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

4 By faith ^sAbel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith ^tEnoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith ^uNoah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear ^vconstructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the ^wrighteousness that comes by faith.

8 By faith ^xAbraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith ^yhe went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the ^zcity that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith ^aSarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful ^bwho had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him ^cas good as dead, were born descendants ^das many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13 These all died in faith, ^enot having received the things promised, but having ^fseen them and greeted them from afar, and ^ghaving acknowledged that they were strangers and ^hexiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ⁱashamed to be called ^jtheir God, for he has prepared for them a city.

17 ^kBy faith Abraham, ^lwhen he was tested, ^moffered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, ⁿ“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 ^oHe considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith ^pIsaac invoked future blessings on Jacob ^qand Esau. 21 By faith ^rJacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, ^sbowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith ^tJoseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning ^uhis bones.

23 By faith ^vMoses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was ^wbeautiful, and they were not afraid of ^xthe king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the ^yson of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the ^zreproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the ^areward. 27 By faith ^bhe left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is ^cinvisible. 28 By faith ^dhe kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the ^eDestroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith ^fthe people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith ^gthe walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 ^hBy faith ⁱRahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of ^jGideon, ^kBarak, ^lSamson, ^mJephthah, of ⁿDavid and ^oSamuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, ^pstopped the mouths of lions, 34 ^qquenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 ^rWomen received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 ^sOthers suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were ^tstoned, they were sawn in two,¹ they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and ^uin dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, though ^vcommended through their faith, ^wdid not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not ^xbe made perfect.

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also ^ylay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us ^zrun with ^aendurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the ^bfounder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him ^cendured the cross, despising the shame, and is ^dseated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or ^efainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the ^fexhortation that addresses you as sons?

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. ⁱGod is treating you as sons. For ^jwhat son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father ^kof spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that ^lwe may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the ^mpeaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been ⁿtrained by it.

12 Therefore ^olift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 ^pStrive for peace with everyone, and for the ^qholiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ^r“root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is ^ssexually immoral or unholy like Esau, ^twho sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that ^uafterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

18 For you have not come to what may be touched, ^va blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the ^wsound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers ^xbeg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, ^y“If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ^z“I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount ^aZion and to the ^bcity of the ^cliving God, the ^dheavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly¹ of the firstborn who are ^eenrolled in heaven, and to God, the ^fjudge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous ^gmade perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the ^hmediator of a ⁱnew covenant, and to the ^jsprinkled blood that speaks a better word than ^kthe blood of ^lAbel.

25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not ^mescape when they refused him who warned them on earth, ⁿmuch less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 ^oAt that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ^p“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a ^qkingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for ^rour God is a consuming fire.

Sacrifices Pleasing to God

13 Let ^sbrotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show ^thospitality to strangers, for thereby some have ^uentertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are ^vin prison, ^was though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the ^xsexually immoral and ^yadulterous. 5 Keep your life free from ^zlove of money, and be ^acontent with what you have, for he has said, ^b“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and ^dimitate their faith. 8 ^eJesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10 ^fWe have an altar from which those who serve the tent¹ have no right to eat. 11 For ^gthe bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered ^houtside the gate in order to ⁱsanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the ^jreproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the ^kcity that is ^lto come. 15 Through him then let us continually offer up a ^msacrifice of praise to God, that is, the ⁿfruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to ^oshare what you have, for such ^psacrifices are pleasing to God.

17 ^qObey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a ^rclear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, ^sthe great ^tshepherd of the sheep, ^uby the blood of the ^veternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, ^wworking in us² that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

22 I appeal to you, brothers,³ bear with my word of ^xexhortation, for I have written to you briefly. 23 You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25 Grace be with all of you.

James

Greeting

1 ^aJames, a ^bservant¹ of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the ^cDispersion:

Greetings.

Testing of Your Faith

2 ^dCount it all joy, my brothers,² when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you ^eknow that the ^ftesting of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be ^gperfect and ^hcomplete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks ⁱwisdom, let him ^jask God, who gives generously to all ^kwithout reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, ^lwith no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and ^mtossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a ⁿdouble-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 ^oLet the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the ^prich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass³ he will pass away. 11 For the ^qsun rises with its scorching heat and withers the ^rgrass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 ^sBlessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the ^tcrown of life, which God has promised to those who ^ulove him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being ^vtempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed ^wby his own ^xdesire. 15 Then desire ^ywhen it has conceived gives birth to sin, and ^zsin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

16 ^aDo not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 ^bEvery good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is ^cno variation or shadow due to change.⁴ 18 Of his own will he ^dbrought us forth ^eby the ^fword of truth, that we should be a kind of ^gfirstfruits of his creatures.

Hearing and Doing the Word

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be ^hquick to hear, ⁱslow to speak, ^jslow to anger; 20 ^kfor the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the ^limplanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ^mdoers of the word, and ⁿnot hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For 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. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the ^olaw of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be ^pblessed in his doing.

26 ^qIf anyone thinks he is religious and does not ^rbridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit ^sorphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

The Sin of Partiality

2 My brothers,^{1 t}show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the ^uLord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, ^vhas not God chosen ^wthose who are poor in the world to be ^xrich in faith and ^yheirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who ^zblaspheme the honorable ^aname by which you were called?

8 If you really fulfill the ^broyal law according to the Scripture, ^c“You shall ^dlove your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the ^ewhole law but ^ffails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, ^g“Do not commit adultery,” also said, ^h“Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the ⁱlaw of liberty. 13 ^jFor judgment is ^kwithout mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has ^lfaith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 ^mIf a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good² is that? 17 So also ⁿfaith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith ^oby my works. 19 You believe that ^pGod is one; you do well. Even the ^qdemons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not ^rAbraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that ^sfaith was active along with his works, and ^tfaith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ^u“Abraham believed God, and it was ^vcounted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a ^wfriend of God. 24 You see that a person is ^xjustified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also ^yRahab the prostitute justified by works ^zwhen she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.