James 4:1-10 1 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”   7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

James 3:13-18 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

James 3:1-12 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

James 2:14-26 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

James 2:1-13   1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 1:26-27 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. Exodus 22:21-23 21 “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry." Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 17-19 And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good? … 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. 19 Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

James 1:22-27 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Philippians 4:8-9 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

James 1:19-27: 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:2-18 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

Psalm 32 1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,    whose sin is covered.2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,    and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away    through my groaning all day long.4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;    my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin to you,    and I did not cover my iniquity;I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 6 Therefore let everyone who is godly    offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;surely in the rush of great waters,    they shall not reach him.7 You are a hiding place for me;    you preserve me from trouble;    you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,    which must be curbed with bit and bridle,    or it will not stay near you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,    but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 31   1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;     let me never be put to shame;    in your righteousness deliver me!2 Incline your ear to me;    rescue me speedily!Be a rock of refuge for me,    a strong fortress to save me! 3 For you are my rock and my fortress;    and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,    for you are my refuge.5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;    you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. 6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,    but I trust in the Lord.7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,    because you have seen my affliction;    you have known the distress of my soul,8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;    you have set my feet in a broad place. 9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;    my eye is wasted from grief;    my soul and my body also.10 For my life is spent with sorrow,    and my years with sighing;my strength fails because of my iniquity,    and my bones waste away. 11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,    especially to my neighbors,and an object of dread to my acquaintances;    those who see me in the street flee from me.12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;    I have become like a broken vessel.13 For I hear the whispering of many—    terror on every side!—as they scheme together against me,    as they plot to take my life. 14 But I trust in you, O Lord;    I say, “You are my God.”15 My times are in your hand;    rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!16 Make your face shine on your servant;    save me in your steadfast love!17 O Lord, let me not be put to shame,    for I call upon you;let the wicked be put to shame;    let them go silently to Sheol.18 Let the lying lips be mute,    which speak insolently against the righteous    in pride and contempt. 19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,    which you have stored up for those who fear youand worked for those who take refuge in you,    in the sight of the children of mankind!20 In the cover of your presence you hide them    from the plots of men;you store them in your shelter    from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the Lord,    for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me    when I was in a besieged city.22 I had said in my alarm,    “I am cut off from your sight.”But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy    when I cried to you for help. 23 Love the Lord, all you his saints!    The Lord preserves the faithful    but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,    all you who wait for the Lord!

1 I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up     and have not let my foes rejoice over me.2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,    and you have healed me.3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. 4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,    and give thanks to his holy name.5 For his anger is but for a moment,    and his favor is for a lifetime.Weeping may tarry for the night,    but joy comes with the morning. 6 As for me, I said in my prosperity,    “I shall never be moved.”7 By your favor, O Lord,    you made my mountain stand strong;you hid your face;    I was dismayed. 8 To you, O Lord, I cry,    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:9 “What profit is there in my death,    if I go down to the pit?Will the dust praise you?    Will it tell of your faithfulness?10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!    O Lord, be my helper!” 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;    you have loosed my sackcloth    and clothed me with gladness,12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Psalm 29:Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;the God of glory thunders,the Lord, over many waters.4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,and Sirion like a young wild ox.7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birthand strips the forests bare,and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.11 May the Lord give strength to his people!May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Psalm 28: 1 To you, O Lord, I call;my rock, be not deaf to me,lest, if you be silent to me,I become like those who go down to the pit.2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,when I cry to you for help,when I lift up my handstoward your most holy sanctuary.3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,with the workers of evil,who speak peace with their neighborswhile evil is in their hearts.4 Give to them according to their workand according to the evil of their deeds;give to them according to the work of their hands;render them their due reward.5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lordor the work of his hands,he will tear them down and build them up no more.6 Blessed be the Lord!For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;my heart exults,and with my song I give thanks to him.8 The Lord is the strength of his people;he is the saving refuge of his anointed.9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Proverbs 29:1818 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.John 14:1-61 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."Galatians 5:19-2519 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Proverbs 29:1818 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.John 6:25-2825 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”Romans 1:16-1716 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”Galatians 2:15-1615 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Proverbs 29:18John 1:43-51Acts 26:15-18

Proverbs 29:18 Acts 2:36-39, 42-47 Hebrews 1:1-3