22 But be (A)doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, (B)the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, (C)he will be blessed in his doing.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious (D)and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's (E)religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: (F)to visit (G)orphans and widows in their affliction, and (H)to keep oneself (I)unstained from the world.

The Sin of Partiality

My brothers,[a] (J)show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, (K)the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” (L)while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become (M)judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, (N)has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be (O)rich in faith and heirs of (P)the kingdom, (Q)which he has promised to those who love him? But you (R)have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who (S)drag you (T)into court?

Footnotes

  1. James 2:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 5, 14

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