Verse 1
My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.
Verse 2
For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing;
Verse 3
and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;
Verse 4
do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Verse 5
Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
Verse 6
But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?
Verse 7
Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?
Verse 8
Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:
Verse 9
but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
Verse 10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one [point], he is become guilty of all.
Verse 11
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Verse 12
So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.
Verse 13
For judgment [is] without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.
Verse 14
What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?
Verse 15
If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,
Verse 16
and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Verse 17
Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
Verse 18
Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from [thy] works, and I by my works will show thee [my] faith.
Verse 19
Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder.
Verse 20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?
Verse 21
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
Verse 22
Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;
Verse 23
and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.
Verse 24
Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
Verse 25
And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
Verse 26
For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.