James 2
1 My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.
My brothers, practice your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, without showing partiality.
2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
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 If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”
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 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised 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 have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
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 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?
Do they not blaspheme the good name by which you are called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing 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 favoritism, you 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 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
For whoever keeps the entire law but stumbles in one point has become guilty of it all.
11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
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 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.
Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
For judgment is without mercy to anyone who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such 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 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,
16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?
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 too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
In the same way faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
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 God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Yoʋ believe that God is one; yoʋ do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
20 O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?
Do yoʋ want to be shown, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did 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 You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.
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 that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a 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 As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.
You see then that a person is justified by works, and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route?
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 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
