<t /><p class="bodytext">From James,<n id="1" /> a slave<n id="2" /> of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad.<n id="3" /> Greetings!p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">My brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> do not show prejudice<n id="2" /> if you possess faith<n id="3" /> in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.<n id="4" />

You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord&#8217;s return is near.

As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> take the prophets who spoke in the Lord&#8217;s name.

May grace and peace be lavished on you<n id="1" /> as you grow<n id="2" /> in the rich knowledge<n id="3" /> of God and of Jesus our Lord!<n id="4" />p>

For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">But you, dear friends &#8211; recall the predictions<n id="1" /> foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.<n id="2" />

maintain<n id="1" /> yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating<n id="2" /> the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.<n id="3" />

(These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.)<n id="1" />

When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord<n id="1" /> told him. He took his wife,

For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, &#8216;<b><i>Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!i>b>&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord<n id="1" /> descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it.

for he will be great in the sight of<n id="1" /> the Lord. He<n id="2" /> must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.<n id="3" />

So<n id="1" /> Mary said, &#8220;Yes,<n id="2" /> I am a servant<n id="3" /> of the Lord; let this happen to me<n id="4" /> according to your word.&#8221;<n id="5" /> Then<n id="6" /> the angel departed from her.p>

It<n id="1" /> had been revealed<n id="2" /> to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die<n id="3" /> before<n id="4" /> he had seen the Lord&#8217;s Christ.<n id="5" />

<p class="otpoetry">&#8220;<b><i>The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,i>b>p> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>because he has anointedi>b><n id="1" /> <b><i>me to proclaim good newsi>b><n id="2" /> <i><b>to the poorb>.i><n id="3" />p> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>He has sent mei>b><n id="4" /> <b><i>to proclaim releasei>b><n id="5" /> <b><i>to the captivesi>b>p> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>and the regaining of sighti>b><n id="6" /> <b><i>to the blind,i>b>p> <p class="otpoetry"><b><i>to set freei>b><n id="7" /> <b><i>those who are oppressed,i>b><n id="8" />p>

She<n id="1" /> had a sister named Mary, who sat<n id="2" /> at the Lord&#8217;s feet<n id="3" /> and listened to what he said.

That<n id="1" /> servant who knew his master&#8217;s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked<n id="2" /> will receive a severe beating.

So<n id="1" /> he contacted<n id="2" /> his master&#8217;s debtors one by one. He asked the first, &#8216;How much do you owe my master?&#8217;

<p class="bodytext">John<n id="1" /> said, &#8220;I am <b><i>the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, &#8216;Make straighti>b><n id="2" /> <b><i>the way for the Lord,&#8217;i>b><n id="3" /> as Isaiah the prophet said.&#8221;