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Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[a] But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

10 For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 11 For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.”[b] So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.

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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.