James 1:25-27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
25 But the one who peers into the perfect law[a] of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does.(A)
26 [b]If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue[c] but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.(B) 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows[d] in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.(C)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1:25 Peers into the perfect law: the image of a person doing this is paralleled to that of hearing God’s word. The perfect law applies the Old Testament description of the Mosaic law to the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings freedom.
- 1:26–27 A practical application of Jas 1:22 is now made.
- 1:26 For control of the tongue, see note on Jas 3:1–12.
- 1:27 In the Old Testament, orphans and widows are classical examples of the defenseless and oppressed.
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