| Third Millennium Bible (TMB) | New International Version (NIV) |
| 1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. | 1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. |
| 2 For if there come into your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment, | 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. |
| 3 and ye have respect for him that weareth the grand clothing and say unto him, "Sit thou here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "Stand thou there," or, "Sit here under my footstool," | 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," |
| 4 are ye not then partial in yourselves and have become judges with evil thoughts? | 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? |
| 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 those who love Him? | 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? |
| 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you and drag you before the judgment seats? | 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? |
| 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which ye are called? | 7 Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? |
| 8 If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," ye do well. | 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. |
| 9 But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. | 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. |
| 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend on one point, he is guilty of all. | 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking 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, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. |
| 12 So speak ye, and so do, as those who shall be judged by the law of liberty. | 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, |
| 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, who hath shown no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. | 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! |
| 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and hath not works? Can faith save him? | 14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? |
| 15 If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, | 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. |
| 16 and one of you say unto them, "Depart in peace; be ye warmed and filled," without giving them those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit? | 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? |
| 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. | 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. |
| 18 Yea, a man may say, "Thou hast faith, and I have works." Show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. | 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. |
| 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well. The devils also believe -- and tremble. | 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. |
| 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? | 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? |
| 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? | 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? |
| 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? | 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. |
| 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 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. |
| 24 Ye see then how by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. | 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does 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 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? |
| 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. | 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. |
| Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved. (Third Millennium Bible 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) |