James 2

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 My brothers, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.	1 My brothers, within the glorious faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, do not choose to show favoritism toward persons.
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,	2 For if a man has entered your assembly having a gold ring and splendid apparel, and if a poor man has also entered, in dirty clothing,
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,"	3 and if you are then attentive to the one who is clothed in excellent apparel, so that you say to him, “You may sit in this good place,” but you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit below my footstool,”
4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?	4 are you not judging within yourselves, and have you not become judges with unjust thoughts?
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?	5 My most beloved brothers, listen. Has not God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that God has promised to those who love him?
6 But you dishonored the poor person. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court?	6 But you have dishonored the poor. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you through power? And are not they the ones who drag you to judgment?
7 Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you?	7 Are not they the ones who blaspheme the good name which has been invoked over you?
8 However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.	8 So if you perfect the regal law, according to the Scriptures, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” then you do well.
9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.	9 But if you show favoritism to persons, then you commit a sin, having been convicted again by the law as transgressors.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law, but falls short in one particular, has become guilty in respect to all of it.	10 Now whoever has observed the whole law, yet who offends in one matter, has become guilty of all.
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.	11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not kill.” So if you do not commit adultery, but you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom.	12 So speak and act just as you are beginning to be judged, by the law of liberty.
13 For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.	13 For judgment is without mercy toward him who has not shown mercy. But mercy exalts itself above judgment.
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?	14 My brothers, what benefit is there if someone claims to have faith, but he does not have works? How would faith be able to save him?
15 If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day,	15 So if a brother or sister is naked and daily in need of food,
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?	16 and if anyone of you were to say to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and nourished,” and yet not give them the things that are necessary for the body, of what benefit is this?
17 So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.	17 Thus even faith, if it does not have works, is dead, in and of itself.
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.	18 Now someone may say: “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works.
19 You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble.	19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble greatly.
20 Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?	20 So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?	21 Was not our father Abraham justified by means of works, by offering his son Isaac upon the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.	22 Do you see that faith was cooperating with his works, and that by means of works faith was brought to fulfillment?
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."	23 And so the Scripture was fulfilled which says: “Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.” And so he was called the friend of God.
24 See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.	24 Do you see that a man is justified by means of works, and not by faith alone?
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?	25 Similarly also, Rahab, the harlot, was she not justified by works, by receiving the messengers and sending them out through another way?
26 For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.	26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.