James' Letter (WEB)

2:1 My brothers, don't hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. ^2:2For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your assembly, and there come in also a poor man in filthy clothing; ^2:3and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, "Sit here in a good place;" and you tell the poor man, "Stand there," or "Sit by my footstool;" ^2:4haven't you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? ^2:5Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn't God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love him? ^2:6But you have dishonored the poor man. Don't the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts? ^2:7Don't they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called? ^2:8However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. ^2:9But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. ^2:10For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he has become guilty of all. ^2:11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ^2:12So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom. ^2:13For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

^2:14What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can that faith save him? ^2:15And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, ^2:16and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it? ^2:17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. ^2:18Yes, a man will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. ^2:19You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder. ^2:20But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? ^2:21Wasn't Abraham, our father, justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? ^2:22You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; ^2:23and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God. ^2:24You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith. ^2:25In like manner wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? ^2:26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.