Darby Bible Translation

New King James Version

A Warning against Favoritism

My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [Lord] of glory, with respect of persons:

1

Beware of Personal Favoritism

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

2

for 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,

2

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

3

and 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:

3

and you [c]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

have ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts?

4

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

5

Hear, 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?

5

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

But *ye* have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] *they* drag you before [the] tribunals?

6

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

7

And [do not] *they* blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you?

7

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

8

If indeed ye keep [the] royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.

8

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

9

But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

9

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

10

For whoever shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one [point], he has come under the guilt of [breaking] all.

10

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

11

For 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 [the] law.

11

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

So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty;

12

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

13

for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

13

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

14

Faith and Works

What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?

14

Faith Without Works Is Dead

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

15

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

15

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

16

and 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 [is] the profit?

16

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

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

17

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

18

But 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.

18

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

19

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

19

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

20

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

20

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

21

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

21

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

22

Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected.

22

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

23

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

23

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

24

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

24

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

25

But was not in like manner also Rahab the harlot justified on the principle of works, when she had received the messengers and put [them] forth by another way?

25

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

26

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

26

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

Parallel

Darby Bible Translation

New King James Version

James 2

James 2