James 2
1 My brethren, hold not, in respect of persons, the faith of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,
My brethren, do not hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, so as to show a partiality for persons.
2 for if there may come into your synagogue a man with gold ring, in gay raiment, and there may come in also a poor man in vile raiment,
For if there comes into your assembly a man in splendid apparel, and with gold rings on his fingers, and there comes in also a poor man, in mean clothing,
3 and ye may look upon him bearing the gay raiment, and may say to him, 'Thou — sit thou here well,' and to the poor man may say, 'Thou — stand thou there, or, Sit thou here under my footstool,' —
and you show regard to him that wears the splendid apparel, and say to him, Sit here, in an honorable place; and you say to the poor man, Do you stand there, or sit here, under my footstool;
4 ye did not judge fully in yourselves, and did become ill-reasoning judges.
are you not partial in yourselves? and do you not judge from false principles?
5 Hearken, my brethren beloved, did not God choose the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the reign that He promised to those loving Him?
Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God has promised to those who love him?
6 and ye did dishonour the poor one; do not the rich oppress you and themselves draw you to judgment-seats;
But you dishonor the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not themselves drag you to the judgment-seats?
7 do they not themselves speak evil of the good name that was called upon you?
Do they not themselves revile that honorable name which is called upon you?
8 If, indeed, royal law ye complete, according to the Writing, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,' — ye do well;
If, however, you fulfill the law of highest excellence, according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well.
9 and if ye accept persons, sin ye do work, being convicted by the law as transgressors;
But if you show partiality for persons, you work sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 for whoever the whole law shall keep, and shall stumble in one [point], he hath become guilty of all;
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet fail in one, is an offender against all.
11 for He who is saying, 'Thou mayest not commit adultery,' said also, 'Thou mayest do no murder;' and if thou shalt not commit adultery, and shalt commit murder, thou hast become a transgressor of law;
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now, though you do not commit adultery, yet, if you kill, you are a transgresssor of law.
12 so speak ye and so do, as about by a law of liberty to be judged,
So speak, and so act, as those who shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 for the judgment without kindness [is] to him not having done kindness, and exult doth kindness over judgment.
For he shall have judgment without mercy, who has shown no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.
14 What [is] the profit, my brethren, if faith, any one may speak of having, and works he may not have? is that faith able to save him?
What profit is there, my brethren, if any one say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
15 and if a brother or sister may be naked, and may be destitute of the daily food,
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 and any one of you may say to them, 'Depart ye in peace, be warmed, and be filled,' and may not give to them the things needful for the body, what [is] the profit?
and any of you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and be filled, and yet give them not the things that are needful for the body, what does this profit them?
17 so also the faith, if it may not have works, is dead by itself.
So, also, faith, if it has not works, is dead, being by itself.
18 But say may some one, Thou hast faith, and I have works, shew me thy faith out of thy works, and I will shew thee out of my works my faith:
But some one will say, You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith by your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 thou — thou dost believe that God is one; thou dost well, and the demons believe, and they shudder!
You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble.
20 And dost thou wish to know, O vain man, that the faith apart from the works is dead?
But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Abraham our father — was not he declared righteous out of works, having brought up Isaac his son upon the altar?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 dost thou see that the faith was working with his works, and out of the works the faith was perfected?
Do you see that faith was the moving principle in his works, and by works his faith was made perfect?
23 and fulfilled was the Writing that is saying, 'And Abraham did believe God, and it was reckoned to him — to righteousness;' and, 'Friend of God' he was called.
And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.
24 Ye see, then, that out of works is man declared righteous, and not out of faith only;
Do you see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only?
25 and in like manner also Rahab the harlot — was she not out of works declared righteous, having received the messengers, and by another way having sent forth?
Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
26 for as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also the faith apart from the works is dead.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
