22 (A)But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his [a]natural face (B)in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, [b]he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, (C)the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but [c]an active doer, this person will be (D)blessed in [d]what he does.

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not [e](E)bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion (F)in the sight of our God and Father is this: to (G)visit (H)orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained [f]by (I)the world.

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:23 Lit the face of his birth; or nature
  2. James 1:24 Lit and he
  3. James 1:25 Lit a doer of a work
  4. James 1:25 Lit his doing
  5. James 1:26 Or control
  6. James 1:27 Lit from

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.(A) 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,(B) and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.(C)

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues(D) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after(E) orphans and widows(F) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.(G)

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