James 2
1 My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [Lord] of glory, with respect of persons:
My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.
2 for if there come unto your synagogue a man with a gold ring in splendid apparel, and a poor man also come in in vile apparel,
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
3 and ye look upon him who wears the splendid apparel, and say, Do thou sit here well, and say to the poor, Do thou stand there, or sit here under my footstool:
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,”
4 have ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts?
have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor as to the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to them that love him?
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?
6 But ye have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] they drag you before [the] tribunals?
But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
7 And [do not] they blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you?
Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?
8 If indeed ye keep [the] royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.
If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
9 But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one [point], he has come under the guilt of [breaking] all.
Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11 For he who said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become transgressor of [the] law.
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.
12 So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty;
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.
13 for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?
What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15 Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 and one from amongst you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled; but give not to them the needful things for the body, what [is] the profit?
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?
17 So also faith, if it have not works, is dead by itself.
So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
18 But some one will say, Thou hast faith and I have works. Shew me thy faith without works, and I from my works will shew thee my faith.
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.
19 Thou believest that God is one. Thou doest well. The demons even believe, and tremble.
You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected.
You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called Friend of God.
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.
24 Ye see that a man is justified on the principle of works, and not on the principle of faith only.
As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.
25 But was not in like manner also Rahab the harlot justified on the principle of works, when she had received the messengers and put [them] forth by another way?
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?
26 For as the body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
