If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a](A) you are doing right. But if you show favoritism,(B) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.(C) 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles(D) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.(E) 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b](F) also said, “You shall not murder.”[c](G) If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:8 Lev. 19:18
  2. James 2:11 Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18
  3. James 2:11 Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17

But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture,[a]You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”[b] you are doing well. But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.[c] 10 For the one who obeys the whole law but fails[d] in one point has become guilty of all of it.[e] 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,”[f] also said, “Do not murder.”[g] Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:8 tn Grk “according to the scripture.”
  2. James 2:8 sn A quotation from Lev 19:18 (also quoted in Matt 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Rom 13:9; Gal 5:14).
  3. James 2:9 tn Or “transgressors.”
  4. James 2:10 tn Or “stumbles.”
  5. James 2:10 tn Grk “guilty of all.”
  6. James 2:11 sn A quotation from Exod 20:14 and Deut 5:18.
  7. James 2:11 sn A quotation from Exod 20:13 and Deut 5:17.