James 2

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

2. Now then, if a man comes into your synagogue wearing gold rings and dressed in splendid apparel, and there comes in also a poor man in lowly apparel,

3. And you give preference to the one who is wearing the splendid apparel, and say to him, “Seat yourself here in the best place”; and you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or, “Sit here under my footstool”;

4. Then have you not passed judgment among yourselves, and have made yourselves judges with evil opinions?

5. My beloved brethren, listen. Did not God Himself choose the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which He has promised to those who love Him?

6. But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not drag you into the courts?

7. Do they not blaspheme the worthy name by which you are called?

8. If you are truly keeping the Royal Law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

9. But if you have respect of persons, you are practicing sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors;

10. For if anyone keeps the whole law, but sins in one aspect, he becomes guilty of all.

11. For He Who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12. In this manner speak and in this manner behave: as those who are about to be judged by the law of freedom.

13. For the one who has dealt without mercy will be judged without mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.

14. My brethren, what good does it do, if anyone says that he has faith, and does not have works? Is faith able to save him?

15. Now then, if there be a brother or sister who is naked and destitute of daily food,

16. And one of you says to them, “Go in peace; be warmed and be filled,” and does not give to them the things necessary for the body, what good is it?

17. In the same way also, faith, if it does not have works, is dead, by itself.

18. But someone is going to say, “You have faith, and I have works.” My answer is: You prove your faith to me through your works, and I will prove my faith to you through my works.

19. Do you believe that God is one? You do well to believe this. Even the demons believe—and tremble in fear.

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

21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac, his own son, upon the altar?

22. Do you not see that faith was working together with his works, and by works his faith was perfected?

23. And the scripture was fulfilled which says, “Now Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness”; and he was called a friend of God.

24. You see, then, that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25. Now, in the same manner also, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when, after receiving the messengers, she sent them out a different way?

26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, in the same way also, faith without works is dead.