James

The general epistle of James, chapter 2, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 2 New English Translation

Prejudice and the Law of Love

   1 My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious LORD Jesus Christ. 2 For if someone comes into your assembly 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, "You sit here in a good place, " and to the poor person, "You stand over there, " or "Sit on the floor"? 4 If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, 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? 6 But you have dishonored the poor! 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? 8 But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself, " you are doing well. 9 But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators. 10 For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For 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. 12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom. 13 For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Works Together

   14 What 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? 15 If a brother or sister 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, 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." Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that - and tremble with fear.
   20 But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 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, " and he was called God's friend. 24 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.

King James Version

   1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
   2 For 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;
   3 And 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:
   4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
   5 Hearken, 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?
   6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
   7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
   8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
   9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
   10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
   11 For 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.
   12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
   13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
   14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
   15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
   16 And 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?
   17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
   18 Yea, 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.
   19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest 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, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
   22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
   23 And 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.
   24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
   25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
   26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.