James 2

New International Version

• 1. My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.
• 2. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
• 3. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"
• 4. have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
• 5. Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
• 6. But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
• 7. Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
• 8. If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.
• 9. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
• 10. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
• 11. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
• 12. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
• 13. because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
• 14. What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
• 15. Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
• 16. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
• 17. In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
• 18. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
• 19. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
• 20. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
• 21. Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
• 22. You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
• 23. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
• 24. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
• 25. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
• 26. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

New International Version