James 2
1 My brothers, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 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 to your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
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 you have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say to him, Sit you here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand you 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 Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brothers, Has not God chosen the poor of this 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 you have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which you are called?
Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?
8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well:
If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of 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 yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a 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 you, and so do, as they that shall 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 he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment.
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man say he has faith, and 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 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 And one of you say to them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it 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 Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.
So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
18 Yes, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
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 You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 But will you 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 on the altar?
Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 See you how faith worked with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
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 imputed 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 credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.
24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out 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 the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
