James 2

1 My brothers, do you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, of glory, with acts of partiality? [a] 2 For if a man with gold rings comes into your synagogue in bright clothing, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in, [c] 3 and you look on the one wearing the bright clothing and say, “You sit here, in a good place,” and to the poor man you say, “You stand there,” or, “Sit under my footstool,” 4 did you not make distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil reasonings? [e]

5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he promised to those who love him? [f] 6 But you dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not themselves drag you into courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme the good name that was called over you? [g]

8 If, however, you carry out the royal law according to the Scripture, “You are to love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well. [h] 9 But if you show partiality, you are working sin, convicted by the law as ones who overstep. [i] 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles in one thing has become liable for all of it. 11 For the one who said, “You are not to commit adultery,” also said, “You are not to murder.” And if you do not commit adultery but you do murder, you have become one who oversteps the law. [j]

12 So speak, and so act, as those about to be judged through a law of freedom. 13 For the judgment is without mercy to the one who did no mercy. Mercy boasts over judgment. [k]

14 What is the benefit, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? [l] 15 If a brother or a sister is naked and lacking the day’s food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” but you do not give them what the body needs — what is the benefit? 17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from the works, and I will show you my faith from my works. [m] 19 Do you trust that God is one? You do well. The demons also trust — and they shudder. [n] 20 But do you want to know, you empty man, that faith apart from works is idle? [o]

21 Was not Abraham our father set right by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? [p] 22 You see that faith was working together with his works, and by the works faith was made complete; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “And Abraham trusted God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” — and he was called a friend of God. [q] † 24 You see that a person is set right by works and not by faith alone.

25 And likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also set right by works, when she welcomed the messengers and put them out by another road? [s] † 26 For just as the body apart from spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. †