James 2

1My brethren, hold not, in respect of persons, the faith of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [Lord] of glory, with respect of persons:

2for if there may come into your synagogue a man with gold ring, in gay raiment, and there may come in also a poor man in vile raiment,

2for if there come unto your synagogue a man with a gold ring in splendid apparel, and a poor man also come in in vile apparel,

3and ye may look upon him bearing the gay raiment, and may say to him, `Thou--sit thou here well,' and to the poor man may say, `Thou--stand thou there, or, Sit thou here under my footstool,' --

3and ye look upon him who wears the splendid apparel, and say, Do thou sit here well, and say to the poor, Do thou stand there, or sit here under my footstool:

4ye did not judge fully in yourselves, and did become ill-reasoning judges.

4have ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts?

5Hearken, my brethren beloved, did not God choose the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the reign that He promised to those loving Him?

5Hear, my beloved brethren: Has notGod chosen the poor as to the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to them that love him?

6and ye did dishonour the poor one; do not the rich oppress you and themselves draw you to judgment-seats;

6But ye have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] they drag you before [the] tribunals?

7do they not themselves speak evil of the good name that was called upon you?

7And [do not] they blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you?

8If, indeed, royal law ye complete, according to the Writing, `Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,' --ye do well;

8If indeed ye keep [the] royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.

9and if ye accept persons, sin ye do work, being convicted by the law as transgressors;

9But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

10for whoever the whole law shall keep, and shall stumble in one <FI>point<Fi> , he hath become guilty of all;

10For whoever shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one [point], he has come under the guilt of [breaking] all.

11for He who is saying, `Thou mayest not commit adultery,' said also, `Thou mayest do no murder;' and if thou shalt not commit adultery, and shalt commit murder, thou hast become a transgressor of law;

11For he who said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become transgressor of [the] law.

12so speak ye and so do, as about by a law of liberty to be judged,

12So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty;

13for the judgment without kindness <FI>is<Fi> to him not having done kindness, and exult doth kindness over judgment.

13for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

14What <FI>is<Fi> the profit, my brethren, if faith, any one may speak of having, and works he may not have? is that faith able to save him?

14What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?

15and if a brother or sister may be naked, and may be destitute of the daily food,

15Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

16and any one of you may say to them, `Depart ye in peace, be warmed, and be filled,' and may not give to them the things needful for the body, what <FI>is<Fi> the profit?

16and one from amongst you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled; but give not to them the needful things for the body, what [is] the profit?

17so also the faith, if it may not have works, is dead by itself.

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

18But say may some one, Thou hast faith, and I have works, shew me thy faith out of thy works, and I will shew thee out of my works my faith:

18But some one will say, Thou hast faith and I have works. Shew me thy faith without works, and I from my works will shew thee my faith.

19thou--thou dost believe that God is one; thou dost well, and the demons believe, and they shudder!

19Thou believest thatGod is one. Thou doest well. The demons even believe, and tremble.

20And dost thou wish to know, O vain man, that the faith apart from the works is dead?

20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21Abraham our father--was not he declared righteous out of works, having brought up Isaac his son upon the altar?

21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22dost thou see that the faith was working with his works, and out of the works the faith was perfected?

22Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected.

23and fulfilled was the Writing that is saying, `And Abraham did believe God, and it was reckoned to him--to righteousness;' and, `Friend of God' he was called.

23And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believedGod, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called Friend ofGod.

24Ye see, then, that out of works is man declared righteous, and not out of faith only;

24Ye see that a man is justified on the principle of works, and not on the principle of faith only.

25and in like manner also Rahab the harlot--was she not out of works declared righteous, having received the messengers, and by another way having sent forth?

25But was not in like manner also Rahab the harlot justified on the principle of works, when she had received the messengers and put [them] forth by another way?

26for as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also the faith apart from the works is dead.

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