18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched and that burnt with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm, 19 the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, 20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned”.†* 21 So fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”*
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, 23 to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,* and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.
25 See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven, 26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.”* 27 This phrase, “Yet once more” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.*
13
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honour amongst all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”* 6 So that with good courage we say,
“The Lord is my helper. I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”*
7 Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Don’t be carried away by various and strange teachings, for it is good that the heart be established by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefitted.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burnt outside of the camp.* 12 Therefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside of the gate. 13 Let’s therefore go out to him outside of the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For we don’t have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come. 15 Through him, then, let’s offer up a sacrifice of praise to God * continually, that is, the fruit of lips which proclaim allegiance to his name. 16 But don’t forget to be doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honourably in all things. 19 I strongly urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you sooner.
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus, 21 make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 But I exhort you, brothers, endure the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been freed, with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you.
24 Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. The Italians greet you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
- 1:5: Psalms 2:7
- 1:5: 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13
- 1:6: Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX
- 1:7: Psalms 104:4
- 1:9: Psalms 45:6-7
- 1:12: Psalms 102:25-27
- 1:13: Psalms 110:1
† 2:7: TR adds “and set him over the works of your hands”
- 2:8: Psalms 8:4-6
‡ 2:11: The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
- 2:12: Psalms 22:22
- 2:13: Isaiah 8:18
§ 2:16: or, seed
† 3:6: “Christ” means “Anointed One”.
- 3:11: Psalms 95:7-11
- 3:15: Psalms 95:7-8
- 4:3: Psalms 95:11
- 4:4: Genesis 2:2
- 4:5: Psalms 95:11
- 4:7: Psalms 95:7-8
- 5:5: Psalms 2:7
- 5:6: Psalms 110:4
- 6:14: Genesis 22:17
- 7:17: Psalms 110:4
- 7:21: Psalms 110:4
- 8:5: Exodus 25:40
† 8:8: “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.
‡ 8:11: TR reads “neighbour” instead of “fellow citizen”
- 8:12: Jeremiah 31:31-34
† 9:1: TR adds “tabernacle”
- 9:20: Exodus 24:8
- 10:7: Psalms 40:6-8
- 10:16: Jeremiah 31:33
- 10:17: Jeremiah 31:34
- 10:30: Deuteronomy 32:35
- 10:30: Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalms 135:14
- 10:38: Habakkuk 2:3-4
† 11:7: or, reverence
‡ 11:13: TR adds “and being convinced of”
§ 11:17: The phrase “only born” is from the Greek word “μονογενη”, which is sometimes translated “only begotten” or “one and only”.
- 11:18: Genesis 21:12
- 11:33: Daniel 6:22-23
- 11:34: Daniel 3:1-30
- 11:34: 1 Kings 19:1-3; 2 Kings 6:31—7:20
- 11:35: 1 Kings 17:17-23; 2 Kings 4:32-37
- 11:37: 2 Chronicles 24:20-21
- 11:37: Jeremiah 26:20-23; 1 Kings 19:10
- 12:6: Proverbs 3:11-12
- 12:12: Isaiah 35:3
- 12:13: Proverbs 4:26
† 12:20: TR adds “or shot with an arrow”
- 12:20: Exodus 19:12-13
- 12:21: Deuteronomy 9:19
- 12:24: Jeremiah 31:31
- 12:26: Haggai 2:6
- 12:29: Deuteronomy 4:24
- 13:5: Deuteronomy 31:6
- 13:6: Psalms 118:6-7
- 13:11: Leviticus 16:27
- 13:15: Psalms 50:23
James
The Letter from James
1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,† to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers,‡ when you fall into various temptations, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For that man shouldn’t think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position; 10 and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. 11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind and withers the grass; and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So the rich man will also fade away in his pursuits.
12 Blessed is a person who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to those who love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. 15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow. 18 Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.§
22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but
