1 M y brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.

2 F or if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,

3 a nd ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,”

4 a re ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 H earken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

6 B ut ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?

7 D o not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?

8 I f ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;

9 b ut if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 F or whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 F or he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12 S o speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

13 F or he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 W hat doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

15 I f a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

16 a nd one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

17 E ven so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 Y ea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

19 T hou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

20 B ut wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

21 W as not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 S eest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 A nd the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

24 Y e see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 L ikewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 F or as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.