King James Bible
"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
James personifies patience (or perseverance) as an active agent that must be allowed to complete its task fully. The Greek term for "perfect work" suggests a process brought to its intended conclusion, emphasizing that spiritual growth requires time and cannot be rushed. The goal is spiritual maturity—"perfect" here means complete or fully developed rather than sinless, while "entire" reinforces wholeness without deficiency. These paired terms echo Old Testament sacrificial language where offerings had to be unblemished and complete. The final phrase describes the outcome: lacking nothing necessary for spiritual completeness. This connects back to James 1:2-3's teaching on trials, showing that endured suffering produces a self-sufficient faith equipped for any circumstance.