James 2
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with respect of persons.2 For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire,3 And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool:4 Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?5 Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?6 But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? and do not they draw you before the judgment seats?7 Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?8 If then you fulfil the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.10 And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all.11 For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.12 So speak ye, and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.13 For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?15 And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food:16 And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?17 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.18 But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.19 Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?22 Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect?23 And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.24 Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?25 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way?26 For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.
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.
