James 2
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1My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.1My brothers, do not let your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be tainted by favoritism.
2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.2Suppose a man wearing gold rings and fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in.
3If 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,"3If you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Please take this seat," but you say to the poor man, "Stand over there" or "Sit on the floor at my feet,"
4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?4then you will have made false distinctions among yourselves and will have judged from evil motives, will you not?
5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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?5Listen, my dear brothers! God has chosen the poor in the world to become rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who keep on loving him, has he not?
6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?6But you have humiliated the man who is poor. Are not rich people the ones who oppress you and drag you into court?
7Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?7Are not they the ones who blaspheme the noble Name by which you have been called?
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.8Nevertheless, you are doing the right thing if you obey the royal Law in keeping with the Scripture, "You must love your neighbor as yourself."
9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.9But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and will be convicted by the Law as violators.
10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.10For whoever keeps the whole Law but fails in one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
11For he who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.11For the one who said, "Never commit adultery," also said, "Never murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you become a violator of the Law.
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,12You must make it your habit to speak and act like people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty.
13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.13For the one who has shown no mercy will be judged without mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?14What good does it do, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but does not prove it with actions? This kind of faith cannot save him, can it?
15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.15Suppose a brother or sister does not have any clothes or daily food
16If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?16and one of you tells them, "Go in peace! Stay warm and eat heartily." If you do not provide for their bodily needs, what good does it do?
17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.17In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not prove itself with actions, is dead.
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.18But someone may say, "You have faith, and I have actions." Show me your faith without any actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions.
19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.19You believe that there is one God. That's fine! Even the demons believe that and tremble with fear.
20You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?20Do you want proof, you foolish person, that faith without actions is worthless?
21Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?21Our ancestor Abraham was justified by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar, wasn't he?
22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.22You see that his faith worked together with what he did, and by his actions his faith was made complete.
23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.23And so the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." And so he was called God's friend.
24You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.24You observe that a person is justified through actions and not through faith alone.
25In 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?25Likewise, Rahab the prostitute was justified through actions when she welcomed the messengers and sent them away on a different road, wasn't she?
26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without actions is also dead.
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James 1
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