James 2

¹My brethren, haue not the faith of our glorious Lord Iesus Christ in respect of persons.

²For if there come into your company a man with a golde ring, and in goodly apparell, and there come in also a poore man in vile raiment,

³And ye haue a respect to him that weareth the gaie clothing; and say vnto him, Sit thou here in a goodly place, and say vnto the poore, Stand thou there, or sit here vnder my footestoole,

⁴Are yee not partiall in your selues, and are become iudges of euill thoughts?

⁵Hearken my beloued brethren, hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde, that they should be rich in faith, and heires of the kingdome which he promised to them that loue him?

⁶But ye haue despised the poore. Doe not the riche oppresse you by tyrannie, and doe not they drawe you before the iudgement seates?

⁷Doe nor they blaspheme the worthie Name after which yee be named?

⁸But if yee fulfill the royall Lawe according to the Scripture, which saith, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe, yee doe well.

⁹But if yee regarde the persons, yee commit sinne, and are rebuked of the Lawe, as transgressours.

¹⁰For whosoeuer shall keepe the whole Lawe, and yet faileth in one poynt, hee is guiltie of all.

¹¹For he that saide, Thou shalt not commit adulterie, saide also, Thou shalt not kill. Nowe though thou doest none adulterie, yet if thou killest, thou art a transgressour of the Lawe.

¹²So speake ye, and so doe, as they that shall be iudged by the Lawe of libertie.

¹³For there shalbe condemnation merciles to him that sheweth not mercie, and mercie reioyceth against condemnation.

¹⁴What auaileth it, my brethren, though a man saith he hath faith, when he hath no workes? can that faith saue him?

¹⁵For if a brother or a sister bee naked and destitute of daily foode,

¹⁶And one of you say vnto them, Depart in peace: warme your selues, and fil your bellies, notwithstading ye giue them not those things which are needefull to the body, what helpeth it?

¹⁷Euen so the faith, if it haue no woorkes, is dead in it selfe.

¹⁸But some man might say, Thou hast the faith, and I haue woorkes: shewe me thy faith out of thy woorkes, and I will shewe thee my faith by my woorkes.

¹⁹Thou beleeuest that there is one God: thou doest well: the deuils also beleeue it, and tremble.

²⁰But wilt thou vnderstand, O thou vaine man, that the faith which is without workes, is dead?

²¹Was not Abraham our father iustified through workes, when he offred Isaac his sonne vpon the altar?

²²Seest thou not that the faith wrought with his workes? and through the workes was the faith made perfect.

²³And the Scripture was fulfilled which sayeth, Abraham beleeued God, and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse: and hee was called the friende of God.

²⁴Ye see then howe that of workes a man is iustified, and not of faith onely.

²⁵Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot iustified through workes, when she had receiued ye messengers, and sent them out another way?

²⁶For as the body without ye spirit is dead, euen so the faith without workes is dead.

James 2

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.