James 2
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partial regard for persons.
My brothers, practice your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, without showing partiality.
2 For if there enter into your synagogue a man having gold rings on his fingers, and with splendid clothing, and there enter likewise a poor man, with sordid apparel;
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 you look on him who has the splendid clothing, and say, Sit you here honorably; and to the poor man, Stand you there; or, Sit here at my footstool:
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 you not, then, partial among yourselves, and have become judges who reason wickedly?
have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor of the world--rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them who love 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 Do not the rich exceedingly oppress you, and themselves drag you to the judgment seats?
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 Do not they defame that excellent name which is named on you?
Do they not blaspheme the good name by which you are called?
8 If, now, indeed, you fulfill a royal law, according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do 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 you have respect of persons, you commit sin, being convicted by the law of transgressors.
But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever will keep the whole law, yet fails in one point, has become guilty of all.
For whoever keeps the entire law but stumbles in one point has become guilty of it all.
11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," has also said, "Do not kill." Now if you do not commit adultery, yet if you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.
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 speak, and so do, as those who shall be judged by a law of liberty;
Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
13 for judgment without mercy, will be to him who showed no mercy: but mercy exults over judgment.
For judgment is without mercy to anyone who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What is the advantage, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? Can faith save 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 be naked, or destitute of daily food,
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,
16 and any one of you say to him, Depart in peace: be warmed, and be filled; yet give him none of the things needful for the body, what is the advantage?
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 So, also, faith, if it have not works, is dead, being alone.
In the same way faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 Also, one 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, “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 You believe that there is one God; you do well: even the demons believe and tremble.
Yoʋ believe that God is one; yoʋ do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
20 Besides, would you know, O vain man, that faith, without works, is dead?
Do yoʋ want to be shown, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works, when he had lifted up Isaac, his son, upon the altar?
Was not our father Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that his faith co-operated with his works, and by works his faith was perfected.
Do yoʋ see how faith was active along with his works, and by works his faith was brought to completion?
23 And so that scripture was fulfilled, which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted 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 counted to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.
24 You see, that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
You see then that a person is justified by works, and not by faith alone.
25 And in like manner, also, was not Rahab, the harlot, justified by works, having secretly received the messengers, and having sent them away by another road.
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 the spirit, is dead, so, also, faith, without works, is dead.
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
