James 2
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, so as to show a partiality for persons.
My brothers, practice your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, without showing partiality.
2 For if there comes into your assembly a man in splendid apparel, and with gold rings on his fingers, and there comes in also a poor man, in mean clothing,
Suppose a man in fine clothing comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in.
3 and you show regard to him that wears the splendid apparel, and say to him, Sit here, in an honorable place; and you say to the poor man, Do you stand there, or sit here, under my footstool;
If you pay attention to the man who is wearing fine clothing and say to him, “Yoʋ sit here in a good place,” but you say to the poor man, “Yoʋ stand there, or sit here under my footstool,”
4 are you not partial in yourselves? and do you not judge from false principles?
have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God has promised to those who love him?
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
6 But you dishonor the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not themselves drag you to the judgment-seats?
But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Are they not the ones who drag you into court?
7 Do they not themselves revile that honorable name which is called upon you?
Do they not blaspheme the good name by which you are called?
8 If, however, you fulfill the law of highest excellence, according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well.
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “Yoʋ shall love yoʋr neighbor as yoʋrself,” you do well.
9 But if you show partiality for persons, you work sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet fail in one, is an offender against all.
For whoever keeps the entire law but stumbles in one point has become guilty of it all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now, though you do not commit adultery, yet, if you kill, you are a transgresssor of law.
For he who said, “Yoʋ shall not commit adultery,” also said, “Yoʋ shall not murder.” Now if yoʋ do not commit adultery but do commit murder, yoʋ have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak, and so act, as those who shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, who has shown no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.
For judgment is without mercy to anyone who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What profit is there, my brethren, if any one say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
What is the benefit, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,
16 and any of you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, and yet give them not the things that are needful for the body, what does this profit them?
and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them anything to address their physical needs, what is the benefit?
17 So, also, faith, if it has not works, is dead, being by itself.
In the same way faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But some one will say, You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith by your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
But someone will say, “Yoʋ have faith, and I have works.” Show me yoʋr faith by yoʋr works, and I, by my works, will show yoʋ my faith.
19 You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble.
Yoʋ believe that God is one; yoʋ do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Do yoʋ want to be shown, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
Was not our father Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was the moving principle in his works, and by works his faith was made perfect?
Do yoʋ see how faith was active along with his works, and by works his faith was brought to completion?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.
And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.
24 Do you see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only?
You see then that a person is justified by works, and not by faith alone.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
In the same way, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
