⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^(A) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^(B) to be rich in faith^(C) and to inherit the kingdom^(D) he promised those who love him?^{(E) 6} But you have dishonored the poor.^(F) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?^{(G) 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](H) you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism,^(I) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.^{(J) 10} For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles^(K) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.^{(L) 11} For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”^[b](M) also said, “You shall not murder.”^[c](N) 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^(O) by the law that gives freedom,^{(P) 13} because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.^(Q) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Deeds

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?^(R) Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.^{(S) 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?^{(T) 17} In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.^(U)

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,^(V) and I will show you my faith^(W) by my deeds.^{(X) 19} You believe that there is one God.^(Y) Good! Even the demons believe that^(Z)—and shudder.