You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask;

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.

You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you.

Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten.

If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?

So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.

But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?

Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure!

Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.

For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.

With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image.

My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.

You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.

because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.