New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
14 My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them?
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What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
15 A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food.
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Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 If you say to that person, "God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat," but you do not give what that person needs, your words are worth nothing.
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If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
17 In the same way, faith that is alone -- that does nothing -- is dead.
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In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 Someone might say, "You have faith, but I have deeds." Show me your faith without doing anything, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
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But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
19 You believe there is one God. Good! But the demons believe that, too, and they tremble with fear.
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You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person! Must you be shown that faith that does nothing is worth nothing?
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You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ?
21 Abraham, our ancestor, was made right with God by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar.
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Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 So you see that Abraham's faith and the things he did worked together. His faith was made perfect by what he did.
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You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23 This shows the full meaning of the Scripture that says: "Abraham believed God, and God accepted Abraham's faith, and that faith made him right with God." And Abraham was called God's friend.
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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 So you see that people are made right with God by what they do, not by faith only.
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You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 Another example is Rahab, a prostitute, who was made right with God by something she did. She welcomed the spies into her home and helped them escape by a different road.
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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 Just as a person's body that does not have a spirit is dead, so faith that does nothing is dead!
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As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.