New King James Version

King James Bible

Beware of Personal Favoritism

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

1

A Warning against Favoritism

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

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 there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

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 ye have respect to him that weareth the gay 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:

4

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

4

Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of 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

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

6

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

6

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7

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

7

Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are 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 ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

9

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

9

But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of 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 whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

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 that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art 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 ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

13

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

13

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against 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 and Works

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15

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

15

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of 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 say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

17

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

17

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

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

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

19

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

19

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20

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

20

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

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 had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22

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

22

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

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 which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24

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

24

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

25

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

25

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

26

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

26

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

Parallel

New King James Version

King James Bible

James 2

James 2