James 2:5-19

English Standard Version

⁵ Listen, my beloved brothers, ^(A)has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be ^(B)rich in faith and heirs of ^(C)the kingdom, ^(D)which he has promised to those who love him? ⁶ But you ^(E)have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who ^(F)drag you ^(G)into court? ⁷ Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable ^(H)name by which you were called?

⁸ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ^(I)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. ⁹ But if you ^(J)show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point ^(K)has become guilty of all of it. ¹¹ For he who said, ^(L)“Do not commit adultery,” also said, ^(M)“Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. ¹² So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under ^(N)the law of liberty. ¹³ For ^(O)judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith ^(P)but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ^15 (Q)If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, ^16 (R)and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good^[a] is that? ¹⁷ So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith ^(S)apart from your works, and I will show you my faith ^(T)by my works. ^19 (U)You believe that God is one; you do well. Even ^(V)the demons believe—and shudder!