1. Greetings from James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To God’s people who are scattered all over the world.
2. My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy.
3. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering.
4. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.
5. Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom.
6. But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is blown up and down by the wind.
7-8. People like that are thinking two different things at the same time. They can never decide what to do. So they should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.
9. Believers who are poor should be glad that God considers them so important.
10. Believers who are rich should be glad when bad things happen that humble them. Their riches won’t keep them from disappearing as quickly as wildflowers.