James 2:1-17 ▼

1 My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For, if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in splendid apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile apparel;

3 and ye show regard to him who is wearing the splendid apparel, and say, "Sit here in a good place"; and say to the poor man, "Stand, or sit under my footstool";

4 do ye not make a distinction among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love Him?

6 But ye dishonored the poor man! Do not the rich oppress you, and do they not drag you before the judgment-seats?

7 Do they not blaspheme the worthy name by which ye were called?

8 If, however, ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," ye do well;

9 but, if ye show respect to persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 For whosoever keeps the whole law, but stumbles in one point , has become guilty of all.

11 For He Who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not kill." Now, if you do not commit adultery, but kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak, and so do, as those who are about to be judged by a law of liberty.

13 For the judgment is without mercy to him who showed no mercy: mercy exults over judgment.

14 What profit is it , my brethren, if anyone says he has faith, but has not works; can such faith save him?

15 If a brother or a sister be naked, and in want of daily food,

16 and one of you say to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," but ye give them not the things needful for the body, what does it profit?

17 Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.