James 2

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.	1 My brothers, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
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;	2 For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in,
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:	3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Sit here, please," while you say to the poor one, "Stand there," or "Sit at my feet,"
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?	4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?
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?	5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?	6 But you dishonored the poor person. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?	7 Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:	8 However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.	9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.	10 For whoever keeps the whole law, but falls short in one particular, has become guilty in respect to all of it.
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.	11 For he who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not kill." Even if you do not commit adultery but kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.	12 So speak and so act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.	13 For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?	14 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 be naked, and destitute of daily food,	15 If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day,
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?	16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.	17 So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
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.	18 Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.	19 You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?	20 Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?	21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?	22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.
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.	23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as 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.	24 See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?	25 And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.	26 For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.