James 2
1 My brethren, haue not the faith of our glorious Lord Iesus Christ in respect of persons.
My brothers, practice your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, without showing partiality.
2 For if there come into your company a man with a golde ring, and in goodly apparell, and there come in also a poore man in vile raiment,
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 ye haue a respect to him that weareth the gaie clothing; and say vnto him, Sit thou here in a goodly place, and say vnto the poore, Stand thou there, or sit here vnder my footestoole,
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 yee not partiall in your selues, and are become iudges of euill thoughts?
have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Hearken my beloued brethren, hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde, that they should be rich in faith, and heires of the kingdome which he promised to them that loue 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 ye haue despised the poore. Doe not the riche oppresse you by tyrannie, and doe not they drawe you before the iudgement seates?
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 Doe nor they blaspheme the worthie Name after which yee be named?
Do they not blaspheme the good name by which you are called?
8 But if yee fulfill the royall Lawe according to the Scripture, which saith, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe, yee doe 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 yee regarde the persons, yee commit sinne, and are rebuked of the Lawe, as transgressours.
But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoeuer shall keepe the whole Lawe, and yet faileth in one poynt, hee is guiltie of all.
For whoever keeps the entire law but stumbles in one point has become guilty of it all.
11 For he that saide, Thou shalt not commit adulterie, saide also, Thou shalt not kill. Nowe though thou doest none adulterie, yet if thou killest, thou art a transgressour of the Lawe.
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 speake ye, and so doe, as they that shall be iudged by the Lawe of libertie.
Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For there shalbe condemnation merciles to him that sheweth not mercie, and mercie reioyceth against condemnation.
For judgment is without mercy to anyone who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What auaileth it, my brethren, though a man saith he hath faith, when he hath no workes? can that faith saue him?
What is the benefit, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
15 For if a brother or a sister bee naked and destitute of daily foode,
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,
16 And one of you say vnto them, Depart in peace: warme your selues, and fil your bellies, notwithstading ye giue them not those things which are needefull to the body, what helpeth it?
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 Euen so the faith, if it haue no woorkes, is dead in it selfe.
In the same way faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But some man might say, Thou hast the faith, and I haue woorkes: shewe me thy faith out of thy woorkes, and I will shewe thee my faith by my woorkes.
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 Thou beleeuest that there is one God: thou doest well: the deuils also beleeue it, and tremble.
Yoʋ believe that God is one; yoʋ do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
20 But wilt thou vnderstand, O thou vaine man, that the faith which is without workes, is dead?
Do yoʋ want to be shown, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father iustified through workes, when he offred Isaac his sonne vpon the altar?
Was not our father Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 Seest thou not that the faith wrought with his workes? and through the workes was the faith 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 sayeth, Abraham beleeued God, and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse: and hee was called the friende 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 Ye see then howe that of workes a man is iustified, and not of faith onely.
You see then that a person is justified by works, and not by faith alone.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot iustified through workes, when she had receiued ye 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 ye spirit is dead, euen so the faith without workes is dead.
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
