James 2
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with respect of persons.
My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [Lord] of glory, with respect of persons:
2 For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire,
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,
3 And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool:
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:
4 Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?
have ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?
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?
6 But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? and do not they draw you before the judgment seats?
But ye have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] they drag you before [the] tribunals?
7 Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?
And [do not] they blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you?
8 If then you fulfill the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.
If indeed ye keep [the] royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.
9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.
But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all.
For whoever shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one [point], he has come under the guilt of [breaking] all.
11 For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
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.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.
So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty;
13 For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.
for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.
14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?
What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?
15 And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food:
Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?
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?
17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
So also faith, if it have not works, is dead by itself.
18 But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.
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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.
Thou believest that God is one. Thou doest well. The demons even believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect?
Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.
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.
24 Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?
Ye see that a man is justified on the principle of works, and not on the principle of faith only.
25 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way?
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?
26 For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.
For as the body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
