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. 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,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges^(A) with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^(B) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^(C) to be rich in faith^(D) and to inherit the kingdom^(E) he promised those who love him?^{(F) 6} But you have dishonored the poor.^(G) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?^{(H) 7} Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”^[a](I) you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism,^(J) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.^{(K) 10} For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles^(L) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.^{(M) 11} For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”^[b](N) also said, “You shall not murder.”^[c](O) If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged^(P) by the law that gives freedom,^{(Q) 13} because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.^(R) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.^(A) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire,^(B) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^(C) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^(D)

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^(E)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.^{(F) 10} Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.