James 1:22-2:13

Holman Christian Standard Bible

²² But^(A) be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face^[a] in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works—this person will be blessed in what he does.^(B)

²⁶ If anyone^[b] thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue,^(C) then his religion is useless and he deceives himself. ²⁷ Pure and undefiled religion before our^[c] God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows^(D) in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.^(E)

The Sin of Favoritism

2 My brothers, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.^{(F) 2} For example, a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor man dressed in dirty clothes also comes in. ³ If you look with favor on the man wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or, “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” ⁴ haven’t you discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world^(G) to be rich in faith^(H) and heirs^(I) of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him? ⁶ Yet you dishonored that poor man.^(J) Don’t the rich oppress you and drag^(K) you into the courts? ⁷ Don’t they blaspheme the noble name that was pronounced over you at your baptism?^(L)

⁸ Indeed, if you keep the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself,^(M)[d] you are doing well. ⁹ But if you show favoritism,^(N) you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the entire law, yet fails in one point, is guilty of breaking it all.^{(O) 11} For He who said, Do not commit adultery,^[e] also said, Do not murder.^(P)[f] So if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you are a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom.^{(Q) 13} For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn’t shown mercy.^(R) Mercy triumphs over judgment.