2:1 My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. |
2:2 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, |
2:3 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"; |
2:4 Then have you not passed judgment among yourselves, and have made yourselves judges with evil opinions? |
2:5 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? |
2:6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not drag you into the courts? |
2:7 Do they not blaspheme the worthy name by which you are called? |
2:8 If you are truly keeping the Royal Law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. |
2:9 But if you have respect of persons, you are practicing sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors; |
2:10 For if anyone keeps the whole law, but sins in one aspect, he becomes guilty of all. |
2:11 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. |
2:12 In this manner speak and in this manner behave: as those who are about to be judged by the law of freedom. |
2:13 For the one who has dealt without mercy will be judged without mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment. |
2:14 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? |
2:15 Now then, if there be a brother or sister who is naked and destitute of daily food, |
2:16 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? |
2:17 In the same way also, faith, if it does not have works, is dead, by itself. |
2:18 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. |
2:19 Do you believe that God is one? You do well to believe this. Even the demons believe—and tremble in fear. |
2:20 But are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? |
2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac, his own son, upon the altar? |
2:22 Do you not see that faith was working together with his works, and by works his faith was perfected? |
2:23 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. |
2:24 You see, then, that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. |
2:25 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? |
2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, in the same way also, faith without works is dead. |