New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
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My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
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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For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,
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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and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "Have a seat here, please," while you say to the poor man, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet,"
4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
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have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
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 beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has 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 have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you, is it not they who 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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Is it not they who blaspheme that honorable name which was invoked over you?
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 really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do 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 partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law 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 whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
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 he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not kill." If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
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So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
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 is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs 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 does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?
15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
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If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of 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 one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
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So faith by itself, if it has no works, 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 some one 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 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; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ?
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Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works 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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Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon 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 faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works,
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 scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God.
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 man is justified by works and not by 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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And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
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For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works 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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.