James — Chapter 2

1My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.

2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.

3If 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,”

4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5Listen, 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?

6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?

7Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?

8If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

11For 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.

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

13For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

14What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

16If 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?

17So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.

18But 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.

19You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?

21Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

22You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

23And 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.

24As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone.

25In 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?

26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

1My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.

2For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing;

3and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;

4Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?

6But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?

7Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?

8Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

9but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one [point], he is become guilty of all.

11For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

12So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.

13For judgment [is] without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.

14What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?

15If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,

16and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.

18Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from [thy] works, and I by my works will show thee [my] faith.

19Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder.

20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?

21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?

22Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;

23and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.

24Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.

25And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

1My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

2For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,

3do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?

4If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?

5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

6But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?

7Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?

8But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

9But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.

10For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

11For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.

12Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.

13For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.

14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?

15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,

16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?

17So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.

18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.

19You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that—and tremble with fear.

20But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?

21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.

23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

25And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?

26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

1My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.

2For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in;

3and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, “Sit here in a good place”; and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”;

4haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

6But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?

7Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?

8However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.

9But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

10For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

11For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

13For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?

15And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,

16and one of you tells them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled”; and yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

18Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

19You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.

20But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

21Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

22You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;

23and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God.

24You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith.

25In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.