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James 1: 1-11

THE LETTER OF

James

Salutation

1James, a servant^* of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Faith and Wisdom

2 My brothers and sisters,^* whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; ⁴and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. ⁶But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; ^{7, 8}for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Poverty and Riches

9 Let the believer^* who is lowly boast in being raised up, ¹⁰and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. ¹¹For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.

65  You have dealt graciously with your servant, ♦︎
   according to your word, O Lord.
66  O teach me true understanding and knowledge, ♦︎
   for I have trusted in your commandments.
67  Before I was afflicted I went astray, ♦︎
   but now I keep your word.
68  You are gracious and do good; ♦︎
   O Lord, teach me your statutes.
69  The proud have smeared me with lies, ♦︎
   but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.
70  Their heart has become gross with fat, ♦︎
   but my delight is in your law.
71  It is good for me that I have been afflicted, ♦︎
   that I may learn your statutes.
72  The law of your mouth is dearer to me ♦︎
   than a hoard of gold and silver.

Mark 8: 11-13

The Demand for a Sign

11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. ¹²And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ ¹³And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.