Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.

For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.

But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.

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

But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does.

If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.

Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?

Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.

For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.

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

For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.

And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.

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!

As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name.

So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.