James 2:8-22

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁸ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.^{(A) 9} But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.^{(B) 11} For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but you murder, you have become a transgressor of^[a] the law.^{(C) 12} So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.^{(D) 13} For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.^(E)

Faith without Works Is Dead

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it?^{(F) 15} If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food^{(G) 16} and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? ¹⁷ So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from works, and I by my works will show you faith.^{(H) 19} You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.^{(I) 20} Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is worthless?^{[b] 21} Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?^{(J) 22} You see that faith was active along with his works, and by works faith was brought to completion.^(K)