Ya'aqub (James) — 1
Greetings from Ya'aqub
1 This letter is from Ya'aqub, a servant of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and of the MASTER 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA Ha'Mashyach. I am writing to the “twelve tribes” of Yashar'AL's believers scattered abroad. Greetings!
Amunah and Endurance
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
3 For you know that when your Amunah is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH and HE will give it to you. 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will not rebuke you for asking.
6 But when you ask 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, be sure that your Amunah is only on 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH with no doubting, for a man with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
8 Their loyalty is divided between 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH and the activities of this world, for they are unstable in everything they do.
9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has honored them.
10 And those who are rich should boast that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field.
11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
12 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH only gives Barakah to those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has promised to those who love HIM.
13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH is tempting me.” for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH can never be tempted by evil, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH never tempts anyone else.
14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
16 So do not be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH our ABBA, who created all the lights in the Shamaym. 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
18 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH chose to give birth to us by giving us HIS true Dabar. And we, out of all creation, became the prized possession of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.
Listening and Doing
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
20 Man's anger does not produce the righteousness 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH desires.
21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the Dabar 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
22 But do not just listen to the Dabar of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. You must do what the Dabar says. Otherwise you are only fooling yourselves.
23 For if you listen to the Dabar and do not obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.
24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and do not forget what you heard, then 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH will Barak you for doing it.
26 If you claim to be religious but do not control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
27 Religion that 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH our ABBA accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.