James 2

English Standard Version

1 My brothers,[1] show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. (Le 19:15; De 1:17; De 16:19; Pr 24:23; Ac 7:2; Ro 2:11; 1Co 2:8; Eph 6:9; Jas 2:9)2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” (Pr 18:23)4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (Joh 7:24)5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? (Job 34:19; Mt 5:3; Lu 6:20; Lu 12:21; Lu 12:32; 1Co 1:27; 2Co 8:9; Jas 1:12; Re 2:9)6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? (Ac 8:3; Ac 16:19; Ac 17:6; Ac 18:12; 1Co 11:22; Jas 5:6)7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called? (Isa 63:19; Isa 65:1; Am 9:12; Ac 15:17)8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. (Le 19:18)9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (Jas 2:1)10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. (Mt 5:19; Ga 3:10)11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (Ex 20:13; Ex 20:14)12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. (Jas 1:25)13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (Job 22:6; Ps 18:25; Pr 21:13; Eze 25:11; Mt 6:15; Mt 18:32; Lu 6:38)14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (Jas 1:22)15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, (Job 31:19; Lu 3:11)16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[2] is that? (1Jo 3:17)17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (Mt 7:16; Ro 3:28; Ro 4:6; Ga 5:6; Heb 11:33)19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (De 6:4; Mt 8:29; Mr 1:24; Mr 5:7; Lu 4:33; Ac 16:17; Ac 19:15; Ro 2:17)20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? (Ge 22:9; Ge 22:12; Ge 22:16)22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; (1Th 1:3; Heb 11:17)23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. (Ge 15:6; 2Ch 20:7; Isa 41:8; Ro 4:3; Ga 3:6)24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? (Jos 2:1; Jos 6:23; Heb 11:31)26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

James 2

New International Version

1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism.2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?6 But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’ you are doing right. (Le 19:18)9 But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law-breakers.10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.11 For he who said, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’[1] also said, ‘You shall not murder.’[2] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a law-breaker. (Ex 20:13; Ex 20:14; De 5:17; De 5:18)12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.16 If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.18 But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[3]?21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend. (Ge 15:6)24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.