New King James Version

English Standard Version

Beware of Personal Favoritism

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

1

The Sin of Partiality

My brothers,a show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

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,

2

For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,

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,”

3

and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,”

4

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

4

have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

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?

5

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

6

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

6

But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?

7

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

7

Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

8

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

8

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

9

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

9

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10

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

10

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

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.

11

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

12

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

12

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

13

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

13

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

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?

14

Faith Without Works Is Dead

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

15

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

15

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,

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?

16

and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what goodb is that?

17

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

17

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

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.

18

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

19

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

19

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe — and shudder!

20

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

20

Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

21

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

21

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

22

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

22

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;

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.

23

and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” — and he was called a friend of God.

24

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

24

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

25

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

25

And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

26

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

26

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

Parallel

New King James Version

English Standard Version

James 2

James 2