2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.
2:2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
2:3 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,”
2:4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
2:5 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?
2:6 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?
2:7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
2:9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
2:11 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.
2:12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
2:13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
2:15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
2:16 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?
2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
2:18 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.
2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.
2:20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
2:21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
2:22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
2:23 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.
2:24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
2:25 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?
2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
2:1 My brothers, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with respect of persons.
2:2 For if there comes into your synagogue a man with gold rings in splendid clothing, and there also comes in a poor man in filthy clothing,
2:3 And you look upon the one wearing the splendid clothing and say, You sit here in a good place, and to the poor man you say, You stand there, or sit under my footstool;
2:4 Have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil reasonings?
2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers: Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which He promised to those who love Him?
2:6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and is it not they who drag you to the courts?
2:7 Is it not they who blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?
2:8 If indeed you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well;
2:9 But if you respect persons, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles in one point has become guilty of all.
2:11 For He who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. Now if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
2:12 So speak and so do as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.
2:13 For the judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
2:14 What is the profit, my brothers, if anyone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
2:15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and lacks daily food,
2:16 And any one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, yet you do not give them the necessities of the body, what is the profit?
2:17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.
2:18 But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder.
2:20 But are you willing to know, O vain man, that faith without its works is useless?
2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
2:22 You see that faith worked together with his works, and by these works faith was perfected.
2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, And Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness ; and he was called the friend of God.
2:24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith only.
2:25 And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works in that she received the messengers and sent them out by a different way?
2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.