1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.2For 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;3And 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:4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?5Hearken, 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?6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.11For 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.12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,16And 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?17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.18Yea, 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.19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?23And 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.24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2
English Standard Version
The Sin of Partiality
1My 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)2For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,3and 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)4have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (Joh 7:24)5Listen, 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)6But 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)7Are 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)8If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. (Le 19:18)9But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (Jas 2:1)10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. (Mt 5:19; Ga 3:10)11For 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)12So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. (Jas 1:25)13For 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)
Faith Without Works Is Dead
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (Jas 1:22)15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, (Job 31:19; Lu 3:11)16and 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)17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18But 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)19You 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)20Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?21Was 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)22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; (1Th 1:3; Heb 11:17)23and 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)24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.25And 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)26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.