James 2
Wycliffe Bible
2 My brethren, do not ye have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory, in acception of persons [in acception, or taking, of persons].
2 For if a man that hath a golden ring, and in a fair clothing, cometh in your company, and a poor man entereth in a foul clothing, [Forsooth if there shall enter into your covent, or gathering together, a man having a gold ring, in white, or fair, cloth, forsooth and a poor man shall enter in foul habit, or cloth,]
3 and if ye behold into him [and ye behold into him] that is clothed with clear clothing, and if ye say to him, Sit thou here well; but to the poor man ye say, Stand thou there, either sit under the stool of my feet [Stand thou there, or sit under the stool of my feet];
4 whether ye deem not with yourselves, and be made doomsmen of wicked thoughts?
5 Hear ye, my most dear-worthy brethren, whether God chose not poor men in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, that God promised to men that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor man. Whether rich men oppress not you by power, and they draw you to dooms [and draw you to dooms]?
7 Whether they blaspheme not the good name, that is called to help on you [that is in-called of you]?
8 Nevertheless if ye perform the king's law, by scriptures[a], Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.
9 But if ye take persons, ye work sin, and be reproved of the law, as trespassers [as transgressors].
10 And whoever keepeth all the law, but offendeth in one [Forsooth whoever shall keep all the law, soothly offend in one], he is made guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Thou shalt do no lechery [Thou shalt not do lechery], said also, Thou shalt not slay; that if thou doest no lechery, but thou slayest, thou art made [a] trespasser of the law.
12 Thus speak ye, and thus do ye, as beginning to be deemed by the law of freedom.
13 For why doom without mercy is to him, that doeth no mercy; but mercy above raiseth doom.
14 My brethren, what shall it profit, if any man say that he hath faith, but he hath not works? whether faith shall be able to save him?
15 And if a brother or sister be naked, and have need of each day's livelode [of each day's lifelode],
16 and if any of you say to them, Go ye in peace [Go in peace], be ye made hot, and be ye filled; but if ye give not to them those things that be necessary to the body, what shall it profit?
17 So also faith, if it hath not works, is dead in itself.
18 But some man shall say, Thou hast faith, and I have works; show thou to me thy faith without works [show thou me thy faith without works], and I shall show to thee my faith of works.
19 Thou believest, that one God is; thou doest well; and devils believe, and [together] tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, thou vain man, that faith without works is idle?
21 Whether Abraham, our father, was not justified of works [Abraham, our father, whether he was not justified of works], offering Isaac, his son, on the altar?
22 Therefore thou seest, that faith wrought with his works, and his faith was filled of works [and his faith was fulfilled of works].
23 And the scripture was filled, saying, Abraham believed to God, and it was areckoned to him to rightwiseness[b], and he was called the friend of God.
24 Ye see that a man is justified of works, and not of faith only.
25 In like manner, whether also Rahab, the whore, was not justified of works, and received the messengers, and sent them out by another way?
26 For as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Footnotes
- James 2:8 after scriptures/by scripture
- James 2:23 And the scripture is fulfilled, saying, Abraham believed to God, and it was reckoned to him to rightwiseness
James 2
New Matthew Bible
He forbids them to have any respect of persons, but to regard the poor as well as the rich, to be loving and merciful, and not to boast of faith where no deeds are. For it is but a dead faith where good works do not follow.
2 Brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, in respect of persons. 2 If there comes into your company a man with a golden ring and in goodly apparel, and there comes in also a poor man in wretched clothing, 3 and you have a respect to him who wears the fine clothing, and say to him, Sit here in a good place, but say to the poor, Stand there, or, Sit here by my footstool, 4 are you not partial among yourselves, and have judged after evil thoughts?
5 Hearken, my dear beloved brethren. Has not God chosen the poor of this world, who are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonoured the poor. Are not the rich those who oppress you, and who draw you before judges? 7 Do they not speak evil of that good name after which you are named?
8 If you fulfil the royal law according to the scripture that says, You shall love your neighbour as yourself – you do well. 9 But if you regard one person more than another, you commit sin, and are rebuked by the law as transgressors. 10 Whoever keeps the whole law, and yet fails in one point, is guilty in all. 11 For he who said: You shall not commit adultery, said also: You shall not kill. Though you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For there will be judgment merciless to him who shows no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What avails it, my brethren, though a person say he has faith, when he has no deeds? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or a sister is without proper clothing, or destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, Depart in peace; may God send you warmth and food – and notwithstanding, you do not give them those things that are needful to the body, what help is it? 17 Even so faith, if it has no deeds, is dead in itself.
18 Yea, and someone might say, You have faith, and I have deeds; show me your faith by your deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 Do you believe that there is one God? You do well. The devils also believe, and tremble.
20 Will you understand, O vain man, that faith without deeds is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified through works when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 You see that faith operated with his deeds, and through the deeds, the faith was made perfect. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then how by deeds a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also, was not Rahab the harlot justified through works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without deeds is dead.
James 2
1599 Geneva Bible
2 1 He sayeth, that to have respect of persons is not agreeable to Christ’s faith, 14 which to profess in words is not enough, unless 15 we show it also in deeds of mercy and charity, 21 after the example of Abraham.
1 My [a]brethren, have not the faith of our [b]glorious Lord Jesus Christ (A)in respect of persons.
2 For if there come into your company a man with a gold ring, and in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment,
3 And ye have a respect to him that weareth the gay clothing; and say unto him, Sit thou here in a [c]goodly place, and say unto the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool,
4 Are ye not partial in [d]your selves, and are become Judges of evil thoughts?
5 [e]Hearken my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the [f]poor of this world, that they should be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. [g]Do not the rich oppress you by tyranny, and do they not draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme the worthy Name after which ye be [h]named?
8 [i]But if ye fulfill the [j]royal Law according to the Scripture, which saith, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.
9 But if ye regard the persons, ye commit sin, and are rebuked of the Law, as transgressors.
10 [k]For whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet faileth in one point, he is guilty of [l]all.
11 [m]For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now though thou doest none adultery, yet if thou killest, thou art a transgressor of the Law.
12 [n]So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judgeth by the Law of liberty.
13 For there shall be condemnation merciless to him that showeth not [o]mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against condemnation.
14 [p]What availeth it my brethren, though a man saith, he hath faith, when he hath no works? can that faith save him?
15 [q]For if a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace: warm yourselves, and fill your bellies, notwithstanding ye give them not those things, which are needful to the body, what helpeth it?
17 Even so the faith, if it have no works, is dead in itself.
18 But [r]some man might say, Thou hast the faith, and I have works: show me thy faith out of thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
19 [s]Thou believest that there is one God: thou doest well: the devils also believe it, and tremble.
20 [t]But wilt thou understand, O thou vain man, that the faith which is without works, is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father [u]justified through works, (B)when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou not that the faith [v]wrought with his works? and through the works was the faith made [w]perfect.
23 And the Scripture was [x]fulfilled which saith, (C)Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.
24 [y]Ye see then how that of works a man is [z]justified, and not of [aa]faith only.
25 [ab]Likewise also was not (D)Rahab the harlot justified through works, when she had received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
26 [ac]For as the body without the spirit is dead, even so the faith without works is dead.
Footnotes
- James 2:1 The fifth: Charity which proceedeth from a true faith, cannot stand with the accepting of persons: which he proveth plainly by setting forth their example, who with the reproach or disdain of the poor, honor the rich.
- James 2:1 For if we knew what Christ’s glory is, and esteemed it as we ought to do, there would not be such respect of persons as there is.
- James 2:3 In a worshipful and honorable place.
- James 2:4 Have ye not (which you ought not to do) by this means with yourselves judged one man to be preferred before another?
- James 2:5 He showeth that they are perverse and naughty Judges, which prefer the rich before the poor, by that that God on the contrary side preferreth the poor, whom he hath enriched with true riches, before the rich.
- James 2:5 The needy and wretched, and (if we measure it after the opinion of the world) the veriest abjects of all men.
- James 2:6 Secondly, he proveth them to be mad men: for that the rich men are rather to be holden execrable and cursed, considering that they persecute the Church, and blaspheme Christ: for he speaketh of wicked and profane rich men, such as the most part of them have been always, against whom he setteth the poor and abject.
- James 2:7 Word for word, which is called upon of you.
- James 2:8 The conclusion: Charity which God prescribeth cannot agree with the accepting of persons, seeing that we must walk in the King’s highway.
- James 2:8 The Law is said to be royal and like the King’s highway, for that it is plain and without turnings, and that the Law calleth everyone our neighbor, without respect, whom we may help by any kind of duty.
- James 2:10 A new argument to prove the same conclusion: They do not love their neighbors, which neglect some, and ambitiously honor others: for he doth not obey God, which cutteth off from the commandments of God that that is not so commodious for him, nay he is rather guilty generally for the breach of the whole Law, although he observe the residue.
- James 2:10 Not that all sins are equal, but because he that breaketh one tittle of the Law, offendeth the majesty of the Lawgiver.
- James 2:11 A proof: because the Lawmaker is always one and the selfsame, and the body of the Law cannot be divided.
- James 2:12 The conclusion of the whole treatise: we are upon this condition delivered from the curse of the Law by the mercy of God, that in like sort we should maintain and cherish charity and goodwill one towards another, and whoso doth not so, shall not taste of the grace of God.
- James 2:13 He that is hard and currish against his neighbor, or else helpeth him not, he shall find God an hard and rough Judge to himselfward.
- James 2:14 The fifth place which hangeth very well with the former treatise, touching a true and lively faith. And the proposition of this place is this: faith which bringeth not forth works, is not that faith whereby we are justified, but an image of faith: or else this, they are not justified by faith, which show not the effects of faith.
- James 2:15 The first reason taken of a similitude: If a man say to one that is hungry, Fill thy belly, and yet giveth him nothing, this shall not be true charity: so if a man say he believeth, and bringeth forth no works of his faith, this shall not be a true faith, but a certain dead thing set out with the name of faith, whereof no man hath to brag, unless he will openly incur reprehension, seeing that the cause is understood by the effects.
- James 2:18 Nay, thus may every man beat down the pride.
- James 2:19 Another reason taken of an absurdity: If such a faith were the true faith whereby we are justified, the devils should be justified: for they have that, but yet notwithstanding they tremble, and are not justified therefore, neither is that faith a true faith.
- James 2:20 The third reason from the example of Abraham, who no doubt had a true faith: but he in offering his son, showed himself to have that faith which was not void of works, and therefore he received a true testimony when it was said, that faith was imputed to him for righteousness.
- James 2:21 Was he not by his works known and found to be justified? for he speaketh not here of the causes of justification, but by what effects we may know that a man is justified.
- James 2:22 Was effectual and fruitful with good works.
- James 2:22 That the faith was declared to be a true faith, and that by works.
- James 2:23 Then was the Scripture fulfilled, when it appeared plainly, how truly it was written of Abraham.
- James 2:24 The conclusion: he is only justified that hath that faith which hath works following it.
- James 2:24 Is proved to be just.
- James 2:24 Of that dead and fruitless faith which you boast of.
- James 2:25 A fourth reason taken from a like example of Rahab the harlot, who also proved by her works that she was justified by a true faith.
- James 2:26 The conclusion repeated again: faith which bringeth not forth fruits and works, is not faith, but a dead carcass.
James 2
Authorized (King James) Version
2 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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