James 2

1My brothers, do not hold the faith of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ in favor by appearance,

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

3and you may look on him bearing the radiant clothing, and may say to him, “You—sit here well,” and may say to the poor man, “You—stand there,” or, “Sit here under my footstool,”

4you did not judge fully in yourselves, and became ill-reasoning judges.

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

6But you dishonored the poor one. Do the rich not oppress you and themselves draw you to judgment-seats?

7Do they not themselves speak evil of the good Name having been called on you?

8If, indeed, you fulfill royal law, according to the Writing: “You will love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;

9but if you favor by appearance, you work sin, being convicted by the Law as transgressors;

10for whoever will keep the whole Law, but will stumble in one [point], he has become guilty of all;

11for He who is saying, “You may not commit adultery,” also said, “You may not murder”; but if you will not commit adultery, but will commit murder, you have become a transgressor of law;

12thus, speak and so act as [one] about to be judged by a law of liberty,

13for the judgment without mercy [is] to him having not done mercy, and mercy exults over judgment.

14What [is] the profit, my brothers, if anyone may speak of having faith, but he may not have works? Is that faith able to save him?

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

16and anyone of you may say to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed, and be filled,” but may not give to them the things necessary for the body, what [is] the profit?

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

18But someone may say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith out of works.

19You believe that God is one; you do well! The demons also believe—and shudder!

20And do you wish to know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

21Was not our father Abraham considered righteous out of works, having brought up his son Isaac on the altar?

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

23And the Writing was fulfilled that is saying, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness”; and, “Friend of God” he was called.

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

25and in like manner also Rahab the prostitute—was she not considered righteous out of works, having received the messengers, and having sent [them] forth by another way?

26For as the body apart from [the] spirit is dead, so also the faith apart from works is dead.