15. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
16. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers:
17. all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
18. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19. Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath,
20. for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.
21. Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.
22. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
23. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror.
24. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like.
25. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does.
26. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.
27. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.