New International Version NIV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
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My brothers, practice the faith of our Lord Yeshua, the glorious Messiah, without showing favoritism.
2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.
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Suppose a man comes into your synagogue wearing gold rings and fancy clothes, and also a poor man comes in dressed in rags.
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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If you show more respect to the man wearing the fancy clothes and say to him, "Have this good seat here," while to the poor man you say, "You, stand over there," or, "Sit down on the floor by my feet,"
4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
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then aren't you creating distinctions among yourselves, and haven't you made yourselves into judges with evil motives?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: 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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Listen, my dear brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and to receive the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?
6 But you have dishonored 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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But you despise the poor! Aren't the rich the ones who oppress you and drag you into court?
7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
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Aren't they the ones who insult the good name of Him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
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If you truly attain the goal of Kingdom Torah, in conformity with the passage that says, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.
9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
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But if you show favoritism, your actions constitute sin, since you are convicted under the Torah as transgressors.
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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For a person who keeps the whole Torah, yet stumbles at one point, has become guilty of breaking them all.
11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
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For the One who said, "Don't commit adultery," also said, "Don't murder."c Now, if you don't commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the Torah.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
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Keep speaking and acting like people who will be judged by a Torah which gives freedom.
13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
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For judgment will be without mercy toward one who doesn't show mercy; but mercy wins out over judgment.
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
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What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but has no actions to prove it? Is such "faith" able to save him?
15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
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Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food,
16 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?
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and someone says to him, "Shalom! Keep warm and eat hearty!" without giving him what he needs, what good does it do?
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
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Thus, faith by itself, unaccompanied by actions, is dead.
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 my deeds.
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But someone will say that you have faith and I have actions. Show me this faith of yours without the actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions!
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
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You believe that "God is one"? Good for you! The demons believe it too - the thought makes them shudder with fear!
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ?
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But, foolish fellow, do you want to be shown that such "faith" apart from actions is barren?
21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
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Wasn't Avraham avinu declared righteous because of actions when he offered up his son Yitz'chak on the altar?
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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You see that his faith worked with his actions; by the actions the faith was made complete;
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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and the passage of the Tanakh was fulfilled which says, "Avraham had faith in God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness." He was even called God's friend.
24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
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You see that a person is declared righteous because of actions and not because of faith alone.
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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Likewise, wasn't Rachav the prostitute also declared righteous because of actions when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another route?
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
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Indeed, just as the body without a spirit is dead, so too faith without actions is dead.
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.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.