Faith and Deeds

1 My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, of glory, with respect of persons.

2 if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and also a poor man comes in in shabby clothing,

3 and you look at the one in fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and to the poor one say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my footstool,”

4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonoured the poor. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you before the judges?

7 Do they not blaspheme the noble name by which you are called?

8 If, however, you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” you do well.

9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now, if you do not commit adultery but you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy, however, rejoices against judgment.

Faith and Works

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food,

16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?

17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

19 You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe, and shudder.

20 Do you want to know, foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was cooperating with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.