King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
1
My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?
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;
2
For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in,
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:
3
and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet,"
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
4
have you not made distinctions 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 them that love him?
5
Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
6
But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
7
Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
8
You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
9
But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
10
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for 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 the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
12
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
13
For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
14
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
15
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food,
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?
16
and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
17
So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
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.
18
But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
19
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
20
Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren?
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 justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
22
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.
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
Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
24
You see that a person is justified by works 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
Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
26
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.