JMNT(i)
12 Happy and blessed is the adult male [A and other MSS: person]
who is continuously remaining under a proving (a putting to the proof; or: a trial; an ordeal),
because upon being birthed approved (or: growing and becoming proved and accepted)
he will continue laying hold of the circle of the life (or: life's crown; life's encirclement; the encirclement from this living existence; or: the wreath which is the Life)
which He [some MSS: the Lord (= Yahweh or Christ)]
Himself promised to those continuously loving Him.
13 Let no one, while being continuously probed and put to the proof, be saying "I am constantly being probed and put to the proof (tested; tried)
in an ordeal from God, " for God is One Who is not put through an ordeal, not probed, put to the proof or tried, and is [
thus]
without experience from not having made an attempt, in regard to things of bad quality (or: you see, God exists un-testable and, lacks experience, from worthless situations or evil things or mean people),
and so He Himself is repeatedly probing no one, nor constantly putting even one person in a test, to the proof or through an ordeal.
14 Yet each person is repeatedly probed and put to the proof (tested and tried in an ordeal),
being continuously dragged (or: drawn)
out and entrapped under his own over-covering passion (by his own longing, craving or lust; by what he sets his desires upon).
15 Thereafter, with the over-covering passion conceiving (seizing together so as to become pregnant),
it continuously gives birth to failure (or: repeatedly brings forth an offspring of missing the target; progressively bears sin).
Now the failure (error; sin; missing of the target),
being brought to full term (being finished off; being fully formed with all its parts; being brought to its goal)
continues producing (keeps generating; from pregnancy progressively bears forth)
death.
16 Do not be repeatedly caused to wander (or: Be not continuously deceived),
my beloved brothers (= family members; = fellow believers)!
17 Every good leaving of a legacy, profitable contributing or excellent dosing, as well as all virtuous giving, and (or: All giving [is] beneficial, and yet),
every perfect gift (finished, complete or mature result of giving)
is from above, descending from the Father of the lights, beside Whom there is no otherness at [
His]
side (or: in the presence of Whom is no parallel otherness; [other MSS: along with Whom {is} not one interchange, variation, shifting or mutation]),
nor a shadow cast by turning [other MSS: an effect caused by the passing of shadows].
18 Being purposed (intended; willed),
from pregnancy He brought us forth by a Word (collected thought; message)
of Truth and Reality – [
placed]
into us – to be (or: to continuously exist being)
a specific firstfruit of His created beings (or: of the effects of His act of creating; or: from the results of the creation which is Himself).