1 | My brethren , have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ , [the Lord] of glory , with respect of persons . |
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 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 | Are ye not then partial in yourselves , and are become judges of evil thoughts ? |
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 ye have despised the poor . Do not rich men oppress you , and draw you before the judgment seats ? |
7 | Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called ? |
8 | If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself , ye do well : |
9 | But if ye have respect to persons , ye commit sin , and are convinced of the law as transgressors . |
10 | For whosoever shall keep the whole law , and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all . |
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 ye , and so do , as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty . |
13 | For he shall have judgment without mercy , that hath shewed no mercy ; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment . |
14 | 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 be naked , and destitute of daily food , |
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 | Even so faith , if it hath not works , is dead , being alone . |
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 | Thou believest that there is one God ; thou doest well : the devils also believe , and tremble . |
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 had offered Isaac his son upon the altar ? |
22 | Seest thou how faith wrought with his works , and by works was faith made perfect ? |
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 | Ye see then how that by works a man is justified , and not by faith only . |
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 . |