1 ¶ My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus, the glorious Christ, 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 a man with a gold ring and in precious apparel comes into your synagogue and a poor person in vile raiment also comes in,

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 wears the precious 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 judging 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, Has not God chosen the poor of this world that they might be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those 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 the rich oppress you with tyranny and draw you with violence to the courts?

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

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

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

8 ¶ If ye truly 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 accused of the law as rebels.

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

10 F or whosoever shall have kept the whole law, and then offends in one point is made 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, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not murder. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou commit murder, 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 those 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 judgment without mercy shall be done unto the one that has shown no mercy; and mercy boasts 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 ¶ My brethren, What shall it profit though someone says that they have faith and do not have works? Shall this type of faith be able to save them?

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 is naked and destitute of daily food,

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

16 a nd one of you says unto them, Depart in peace; be ye warmed and filled; but ye do not give them those things which are needful for the body; what shall it profit them?

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 does not have works, is dead in and of itself.

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

18 B ut someone may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show 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 God is one; thou doest well; the demons also believe and tremble.

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

20 B ut, O vain man, dost thou desire to know 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 offered his son Isaac upon the altar?

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

22 D ost thou not see how the faith worked together with his works, and the faith was complete by the works?

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

23 A nd that 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 only by faith.

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 received the messengers and 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.