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

My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.

2 f or if there come unto your synagogue a man with a gold ring in splendid apparel, and a poor man also come in in vile apparel,

For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in;

3 a nd ye look upon him who wears the splendid apparel, and say, Do thou sit here well, and say to the poor, Do thou stand there, or sit here under my footstool:

and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, “Sit here in a good place”; and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”;

4 h ave ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts?

haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 H ear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor as to the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to them that love him?

Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in 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 the rich oppress you, and they drag you before tribunals?

But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?

7 A nd they blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you?

Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?

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

However, if you 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 of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 F or whoever shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one, he has come under the guilt of all.

For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

11 F or he who said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become transgressor of law.

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

12 S o speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by law of liberty;

So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

13 f or judgment without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

14 W hat the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?

What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?

15 N ow if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,

16 a nd one from amongst you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled; but give not to them the needful things for the body, what the profit?

and one of you tells them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled”; and yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

17 S o also faith, if it have not works, is dead by itself.

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

18 B ut some one will say, Thou hast faith and I have works. Shew me thy faith without works, and I from my works will shew thee my faith.

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

19 T hou believest that God is one. Thou doest well. The demons even believe, and tremble.

You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.

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

But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

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

Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

22 T hou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected.

You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;

23 A nd the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called Friend of God.

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

24 Y e see that a man is justified on the principle of works, and not on the principle of faith only.

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

25 B ut was not in like manner also Rahab the harlot justified on the principle of works, when she had received the messengers and put forth by another way?

In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

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

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.