James 2
1 My brothers, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect to persons.
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;
For if a gold-ringed man may come into your synagogue, in shining apparel, and a poor man may also come in with soiled clothing;
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:
and you may look upon the one wearing the shining garment, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and may say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit down beneath my footstool:
4 Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
are you not condemned among yourselves, and have you not become the judges of evil reasonings?
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?
Hear, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen the poor in the world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him with divine love?
6 But you have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
You have dishonored the poor. Do not the rich domineer over you, and drag you into courts?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which you are called?
Do they not blaspheme the good name which has been called upon you?
8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well:
If indeed you keep the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor with divine love as thyself, you do well.
9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, being 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.
For whosoever may keep the whole law, and fail in one item, has become guilty of all.
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 the one saying, Thou shalt not commit adultery also said, Thou shalt not murder; but if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
So you say, and so you do, as about to be condemned by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has showed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment.
For judgment is without mercy to him that shows no mercy; but mercy glorieth against judgment.
14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
But what is it profitable, my brethren, if one may say he has faith, but has not works? whether is faith able to save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
If a brother or sister may be naked, and may be destitute of 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?
and one of you may say to them, Go in peace, be ye warmed, and be ye fed; and give them not the necessaries of the body; what profit is it?
17 Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.
So indeed faith, if it may not have works, is dead, as to itself.
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 one will say, You have faith, and I have works: Show me your faith apart from works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Do you believe that there is one God? you do well: the demons also believe and tremble.
20 But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Do you wish to know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is inefficient?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, having offered up 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 faith wrought with his works, and by works the faith was made perfect;
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, saying, And Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
You see that a man is justified by works, and not only by faith.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
And likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, having received the spies, and sent them out by another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith also apart from works is dead.
