James

2 My brethren, do not with respect for persons be holding the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ [the Lord] of glory.

2 For if there enter into your synagogue a man wearing gold rings in gay clothing, And there enter a destitute man also in soiled clothing,—

3 And ye eye him that hath on the gay clothing and say, Thou be sitting here pleasantly,—And unto the destitute man say—Thou stand or sit there under my footstool

4 Would ye not have been led to make distinctions among yourselves and have become judges with wicked reasonings?

5 Hearken! my brethren beloved:—Hath not God chosen the destitute in the world [To be] rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

6 Whereas ye have dishonoured the destitute man! Do not the rich oppress you? And themselves drag you into courts of justice?

7 Do not they defame the noble name which hath been invoked upon you?

8 If ye are indeed fulfilling a royal law, according to the scripture—Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself Nobly are ye doing;

9 But if ye are shewing respect of persons Sin are ye working Being convicted by the law as transgressors!

10 For a man who shall keep the whole law But shall stumble in one thing Hath become for all things liable,—

11 For he that hath said—Do not commit adultery Hath also said—Do not commit murder,—Now if thou dost not commit adultery But dost commit murder Thou hast become a transgressor of law.

12 So be speaking and so doing, As they who through means of a law of freedom are about to be judged;

13 For the judgment [will be] without mercy unto him that hath shewed no mercy: Mercy boasteth over judgment.

14 What profit, my brethren,—If one should be saying he hath faith but hath not works Can his faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister should be naked and coming short of the daily food,

16 And one from among you should say unto them—Withdraw in peace, Be getting warmed and fed, But should not give them the things needful for the body What the profit?

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

18 But one will say—Thou hast faith And I have works, Shew me thy faith apart from thy works And I unto thee will shew by my works my faith.

19 Thou believest that God is one: Thou doest well—Even the demons believe and shudder!

20 But art thou willing to learn, O empty man! That faith apart from works is idle?

21 Abraham our father Was it not by works he was declared righteous—When he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Thou seest that his faith had been working together with his works, And by his works did his faith become full-grown,—

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith—And Abraham believed God And it was reckoned to him as righteousness, And God’s friend was he called:

24 Ye see that—By works a man is declared righteous, And not by faith alone.

25 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot Was it not by works she was declared righteous, When she gave welcome unto the messengers And by another way urged them forth?

26 Just as the body apart from spirit is dead So our faith also apart from works is dead.