James 2

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

1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the 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 assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

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 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:

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

4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of 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?

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?

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. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

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

7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

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

8If ye fulfil 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 to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of 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 whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of 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 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 about by a law of liberty to be judged,

12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall 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 he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against 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 doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

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

15If a brother or sister be 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 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?

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

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

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:

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

19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also 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?

22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

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 saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

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

24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by 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?

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 apart from the spirit is dead, so also the faith apart from the works is dead.

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