New King James Version

New International Version

Beware of Personal Favoritism

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

1

Favoritism Forbidden

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.

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

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.

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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

If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”

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

4

have you not discriminated 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 dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

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

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But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

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

7

Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8

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

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If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”a you are doing right.

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

9

But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

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 and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking 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.

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For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”b also said, “You shall not murder.”c If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

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

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Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,

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

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because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. 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 and Deeds

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

15

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

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Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

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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?

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If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

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

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In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

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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.

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But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

19

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

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You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder.

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

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You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is uselessd?

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

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Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

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

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You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

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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.

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And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”e and he was called God’s friend.

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

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You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do 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?

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In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

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

26

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Parallel

New King James Version

New International Version

James 2

James 2