5 chapters. Pick a chapter, then pick a grade.
James 1 tells believers to count it joy when they face trials, because testing produces endurance. Anyone who lacks wisdom should ask God, who gives generously. Temptation does not come from God; every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights. Believers should be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, and be doers of the word, not hearers only. Pure religion cares for orphans and widows and keeps itself unstained by the world.
James 2 warns believers not to show favoritism to the rich and dishonor the poor. God chose the poor to be rich in faith. Believers fulfill the royal law when they love their neighbor as themselves, and mercy triumphs over judgment. Faith that has no works is dead. Abraham showed his faith when he offered Isaac, and Rahab showed hers when she welcomed the messengers. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.
James 3 warns that teachers will be judged more strictly, because everyone stumbles in many ways, especially in speech. The tongue is small, like a horse’s bit, a ship’s rudder or a little fire, but it can steer or burn a great deal. With the same mouth people bless God and curse people made in his image, and this ought not to be so. True wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy and good fruit, and peacemakers sow a harvest of righteousness.
James 4 says quarrels come from selfish desires. People do not have because they do not ask, or they ask with wrong motives. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. So submit to God, resist the devil, and draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Do not speak against one another. Do not boast about tomorrow, since life is like a mist; instead say, If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.
James 5 warns rich people who hoarded wealth and held back the wages of their workers. Believers should be patient until the coming of the Lord, like a farmer waiting for rain and crops, and like the prophets and Job who endured. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Anyone suffering should pray; anyone cheerful should sing praise; the sick should call the elders to pray. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful, as Elijah’s prayers showed.