1.4 KiB
thinks himself to be religious
"thinks he worships God correctly"
his tongue
Controlling one's tongue stands for controlling one's speech. AT: "what he says" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)
deceives
"fools" or "misleads"
his heart
Here "heart" refers to his belief or thoughts. AT: "himself" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)
his religion is worthless
"he worships God uselessly"
pure and unspoiled
James speaks of religion, the way one worships God, as if it could be physically pure and unspoiled. These are traditional ways for Jews to say that something is acceptable to God. AT: "Completely acceptable" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet and rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
before our God and Father
directed to God (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)
the fatherless
"the orphans"
in their affliction
The fatherless and widows are suffering because their fathers or husbands have died.
to keep oneself unstained by the world
Sin in the world is spoken of as something dirty that can stain a person. AT: "to not allow the evil in the world to cause oneself to sin" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)