James 2:1-13

Disciples’ Literal New Testament

Do Not Show Partiality Based On Earthly Status

2 My brothers, do not be holding the faith of ^[a] our Lord Jesus Christ of ^[b] glory with respect-of-persons^[c]. ² For if a gold-ringed man in shining clothing enters into your gathering, and a poor man in filthy clothing also enters, ³ and you look-upon^[d] the one wearing the shining clothing and say “You be sitting here honorably^[e]”, and you say to the poor man “You stand there, or be sitting under^[f] my footstool”, ⁴ did you not make-distinctions among yourselves and become judges with^[g] evil thoughts?

God Does Not Base His Actions On Human Distinctions. Love Your Neighbor

⁵ Listen, my beloved brothers— did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and inheritors of the kingdom which He promised to the ones loving Him? ⁶ But you dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and themselves drag you into courts? ⁷ Do not they blaspheme the good name having been called^[h] upon you? ⁸ If indeed^[i] you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture [in Lev 19:18], “You shall love your neighbor as yourself ”, you are doing well^[j]. ⁹ But if you are showing-respect-of-persons you are working^[k] a sin, being convicted^[l] by the Law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles in one thing has become guilty of all. ¹¹ For the One having said “Do not commit-adultery” also said “Do not murder”. Now if you do not commit-adultery, but you murder, you have become a transgressor of the Law. ¹² So speak and so do as ones going to be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³ For judgment will be merciless to the one not having done^[m] mercy. Mercy vaunts^[n] over judgment.