James 2

¹My brothers, within the glorious faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, do not choose to show favoritism toward persons.

²For if a man has entered your assembly having a gold ring and splendid apparel, and if a poor man has also entered, in dirty clothing,

³and if you are then attentive to the one who is clothed in excellent apparel, so that you say to him, “You may sit in this good place,” but you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit below my footstool,”

⁴are you not judging within yourselves, and have you not become judges with unjust thoughts?

⁵My most beloved brothers, listen. Has not God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that God has promised to those who love him?

⁶But you have dishonored the poor. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you through power? And are not they the ones who drag you to judgment?

⁷Are not they the ones who blaspheme the good name which has been invoked over you?

⁸So if you perfect the regal law, according to the Scriptures, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” then you do well.

⁹But if you show favoritism to persons, then you commit a sin, having been convicted again by the law as transgressors.

¹⁰Now whoever has observed the whole law, yet who offends in one matter, has become guilty of all.

¹¹For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not kill.” So if you do not commit adultery, but you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

¹²So speak and act just as you are beginning to be judged, by the law of liberty.

¹³For judgment is without mercy toward him who has not shown mercy. But mercy exalts itself above judgment.

¹⁴My brothers, what benefit is there if someone claims to have faith, but he does not have works? How would faith be able to save him?

¹⁵So if a brother or sister is naked and daily in need of food,

¹⁶and if anyone of you were to say to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and nourished,” and yet not give them the things that are necessary for the body, of what benefit is this?

¹⁷Thus even faith, if it does not have works, is dead, in and of itself.

¹⁸Now someone may say: “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works.

¹⁹You believe that there is one God. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble greatly.

²⁰So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

²¹Was not our father Abraham justified by means of works, by offering his son Isaac upon the altar?

²²Do you see that faith was cooperating with his works, and that by means of works faith was brought to fulfillment?

²³And so the Scripture was fulfilled which says: “Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.” And so he was called the friend of God.

²⁴Do you see that a man is justified by means of works, and not by faith alone?

²⁵Similarly also, Rahab, the harlot, was she not justified by works, by receiving the messengers and sending them out through another way?

²⁶For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

James 2

¹My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory, with respect of persons.

²For 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:

³And 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:

⁴Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?

⁵Hearken, 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?

⁶But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? And do not they draw you before the judgment seats?

⁷Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?

⁸If then you fulfil the royal law, according to the scriptures: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.

⁹But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.

¹⁰And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all.

¹¹For 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.

¹²So speak ye and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.

¹³For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.

¹⁴What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?

¹⁵And if a brother or sister be naked and want daily food:

¹⁶And 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?

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

¹⁸But 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.

¹⁹Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost 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, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?

²²Seest thou that faith did cooperate with his works and by works faith was made perfect?

²³And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.

²⁴Do you see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?

²⁵And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers and sending them out another way?

²⁶For even as the body without the spirit is dead: so also faith without works is dead.