James 2

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ 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 shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire,	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 you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit 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 Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?	4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?
5 Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God 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 you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? and do not they 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 the good name that is invoked upon you?	7 Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you?
8 If then you fulfil the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you 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 you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.	9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become 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, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt 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 being to 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 judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.	13 For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to 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 And if a brother or sister be naked, and want 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 to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall 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 So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.	17 So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.	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 dost 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, offering up 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, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was 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, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, 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 Do you see 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 And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending 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 even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.	26 For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.