| King James Version (KJV) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
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1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.
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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;
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2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
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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:
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3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"
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4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
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4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
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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?
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5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
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6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
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6 But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
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7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called ?
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7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?
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8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
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8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.
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9 But if ye have respect to persons , ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
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9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
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10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
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10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
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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.
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11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
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12 So speak ye , and so do , as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
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12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
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13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
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13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
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14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
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14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
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15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
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15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
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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?
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16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
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17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone .
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17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
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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.
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18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
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19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe , and tremble .
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19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
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20 But wilt thou know , O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
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20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ?
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21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
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21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
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22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect ?
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22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
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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.
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23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
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24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified , and not by faith only.
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24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
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25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
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25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
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26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
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26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
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| The King James Version is in the public domain. (The King James Bible Version Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
