King James Bible
"For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was."
This describes someone who looks at their reflection in a mirror, continuing James's analogy of hearing God's word without acting on it. The Greek verb suggests a careful, attentive look—making the subsequent forgetfulness even more striking. The person turns away from the mirror and resumes their daily activities. This physical departure represents the spiritual reality of leaving God's word behind without allowing it to transform one's life. The immediate forgetting emphasizes the futility of passive hearing—the person loses even the self-awareness the word provided. James highlights how quickly spiritual insights fade when not accompanied by obedient action, completing his warning against self-deception.