James 1:24-26

Expanded Bible

²⁴ [^LFor] They ·see their faces [gaze at themselves] and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like. ²⁵ But ·the truly happy people are [^Lblessed are] those who ·carefully study [look intently into; ^Lstoop down to look at] God’s perfect law that makes people free [^Cprobably refers to the law of Moses as it is fulfilled in Christ; 2:8, 12], and they ·continue to study it [persevere in it]. ·They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says [^Lnot being a forgetful hearer but an active doer]. Those who do this will be ·made happy [blessed].

The True Way to Worship God

²⁶ People who think they are religious but ·say things they should not say [^Ldo not bridle their tongues; 3:1–12; 4:11–12] are just ·fooling [deceiving] themselves. Their “religion” is ·worth nothing [empty; meaningless].