James 1:17

1:17 All generous giving and every perfect gift ¹  is from above, coming down ²  from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change. ³ 

James 1:23

1:23 For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone ⁴  who gazes at his own face ⁵  in a mirror.

James 3:4

3:4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs.

James 3:7

3:7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature ⁶  is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. ⁷ 

James 5:9

5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, ⁸  so that you may not be judged. See, the judge stands before the gates! ⁹ 

James 5:20

5:20 he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path ¹⁰  will save that person’s ¹¹  soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

¹ tn The first phrase refers to the action of giving and the second to what is given.

² tn Or “All generous giving and every perfect gift from above is coming down.”

³ tn Grk “variation or shadow of turning” (referring to the motions of heavenly bodies causing variations of light and darkness).

⁴ tn The word for “man” or “individual” is ἀνήρ (anhr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” However, as BDAG 79 s.v. 2 says, here it is “equivalent to τὶς someone, a person.”

⁵ tn Grk “the face of his beginning [or origin].”

⁷ tn Grk (plurals), “every kind of animals and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures.”

⁸ tn Grk “the human species.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:2.

¹¹ sn The term gates is used metaphorically here. The physical referent would be the entrances to the city, but the author uses the term to emphasize the imminence of the judge’s approach.

¹³ tn Grk “from the error of his way” (using the same root as the verb “to wander, to err” in the first part of the verse).

¹⁴ tn Grk “his soul”; the referent (the sinner mentioned at the beginning of the verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.