雅各书 2

不可偏待人

1 我的弟兄们，你们应当持守对我们荣耀的主耶稣基督的信仰，不要怀着偏待人的心。2 如果有一个戴着金戒指、穿着华丽衣服的人进了你们的会堂，又有一个穿着肮脏衣服的穷人也进来了，3 你们却看重那穿华丽衣服的人，对他说“请你坐在这好位子上”，而对那穷人说“你站在那里”，或说“坐在我的脚凳下边”；4 难道你们中间不就有了歧视，而你们也成了心怀恶念的审判官吗？

5 我亲爱的弟兄们，请听！神难道不是拣选了世上的那些贫穷人，使他们在信仰上富有，并且做他t国度的继承人吗？这国度是他应许给爱他之人的。6 但你们却侮辱了这贫穷人！那欺压你们、把你们拉上法庭的，难道不是那些富有的人吗？7 那亵渎你们所敬奉的美好之名的，难道不是他们吗？

8 不过，你们如果照着经上那条至尊的t律法“要爱邻如己”t完全实行，你们就做得很好了。9 但如果你们偏待人，就是犯罪，并被律法指证是违犯律法的人。10 因为那遵守整个律法的人，只在一条上跌倒，就成了干犯所有律法的了。11 原来那位说过“不可通奸”t的，也说过“不可杀人”t。你即使不通奸，却杀人，你还是成了违犯律法的人。

12 既然你们将要照着那使人得自由的律法受审判，就应当照此说话、行事。13 要知道，那不施怜悯的人，要受毫无怜悯的审判；怜悯胜过审判。

信仰和行为

14 我的弟兄们，如果有人说自己有信仰，但却没有行为，这有什么好处呢？难道这种信仰能救他吗？

15 如果有弟兄或姐妹衣不蔽体，又缺乏日用的食物，16 而你们当中有人对他们说：“平平安安地去吧！愿你们穿得暖、吃得饱！”，却不给他们身体所需要的，这有什么好处呢？17 信仰也是这样：如果没有行为，这信仰就是死的。

18 不过有人会说：“你有信仰；我有行为。”请给我看看你没有行为的信仰，我也本于自己的行为给你看看我的信仰。19 你相信神只有一位，你就做得很好！连鬼魔也相信，并且恐惧战兢。

20 唉，你这虚空的人哪！你想知道没有行为的信仰是无用的t吗？21 我们的先祖亚伯拉罕把他的儿子以撒献在祭坛上，难道不是本于行为被称为义吗？22 你看，信仰和他的行为相辅相成，而且信仰是本于行为得以完全的。23 这就应验了经上所说的：“亚伯拉罕信神，这就被算为他的义。”t他又被称为“神的朋友”。24 可见人被称为义是本于行为，不仅是本于信仰。25 同样，妓女瑞荷接待了那些使者，又从另一条路把他们送走，难道不也是本于行为被称为义吗？26 要知道，就像身体没有灵魂是死的，照样，信仰没有行为也是死的。

James 2

Prejudice and the Law of Love

1 My brothers and sisters,t do not show prejudicet if you possess faitht in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.t2 For if someonet comes into your assemblyt wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,3 do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say,t “You sit here in a good place,”t and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?t4 If so, have you not made distinctionst among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?t5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters!t 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?6 But you have dishonored the poor!t Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?7 Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?t8 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture,t “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”s you are doing well.9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.t10 For the one who obeys the whole law but failst in one point has become guilty of all of it.t11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,”s also said, “Do not murder.”s Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.t

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

Faith and Works Together

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters,t if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faitht save him?s15 If a brother or sistert is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs,t what good is it?17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.”t Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith byt my works.

19 You believe that God is one; well and good.t Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.t
20 But would you like evidence,t you empty fellow,t that faith without works is useless?s21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?22 You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,”s and he was called God’s friend.s24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.25 And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?

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