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22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
    and favor is better than silver or gold.(A)
The rich and the poor have this in common:
    the Lord is the maker of them all.

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22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.(A)

Rich and poor have this in common:
    The Lord is the Maker of them all.(B)

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Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and the rod of anger will fail.(A)
Those who are generous are blessed,
    for they share their bread with the poor.(B)

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Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,(A)
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.(B)

The generous will themselves be blessed,(C)
    for they share their food with the poor.(D)

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22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor
    or crush the afflicted at the gate,(A)
23 for the Lord pleads their cause
    and despoils of life those who despoil them.(B)

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Saying 2

22 Do not exploit the poor(A) because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,(B)
23 for the Lord will take up their case(C)
    and will exact life for life.(D)

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Psalm 125

The Security of God’s People

A Song of Ascents.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
    which cannot be moved but abides forever.(A)
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
    so the Lord surrounds his people
    from this time on and forevermore.(B)
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
    on the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous might not stretch out
    their hands to do wrong.(C)
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good
    and to those who are upright in their hearts.(D)
But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways,
    the Lord will lead away with evildoers.
    Peace be upon Israel!(E)

Psalm 125

A song of ascents.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,(A)
    which cannot be shaken(B) but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,(C)
    so the Lord surrounds(D) his people
    both now and forevermore.

The scepter(E) of the wicked will not remain(F)
    over the land allotted to the righteous,
for then the righteous might use
    their hands to do evil.(G)

Lord, do good(H) to those who are good,
    to those who are upright in heart.(I)
But those who turn(J) to crooked ways(K)
    the Lord will banish(L) with the evildoers.

Peace be on Israel.(M)

Warning against Partiality

My brothers and sisters, do not claim the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory while showing partiality.(A) For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here in a good place, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit by my footstool,”(B) have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?(C) But you have dishonored the poor person. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into the courts?(D) Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.(E) 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.(F)

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Favoritism Forbidden

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious(A) Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.(B) Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges(C) with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:(D) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world(E) to be rich in faith(F) and to inherit the kingdom(G) he promised those who love him?(H) But you have dishonored the poor.(I) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?(J) Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a](K) you are doing right. But if you show favoritism,(L) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.(M) 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles(N) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:8 Lev. 19:18

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.(A) 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.(B) 13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 2.11 Other ancient authorities read a rebel against

11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[a](A) also said, “You shall not murder.”[b](B) If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged(C) by the law that gives freedom,(D) 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.(E) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:11 Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18
  2. James 2:11 Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17

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?(A) 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food(B) 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.

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Faith and Deeds

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?(A) Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.(B) 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?(C) 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.(D)

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The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith

24 From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre.[a] He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, 25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Sir,[b] even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And when she went home, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.

Jesus Cures a Deaf Man

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went by way of Sidon toward the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.(A) 33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue.(B) 34 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”(C) 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.(D) 36 Then Jesus[c] ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.(E) 37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

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Footnotes

  1. 7.24 Other ancient authorities add and Sidon
  2. 7.28 Or Lord; other ancient authorities prefix Yes
  3. 7.36 Gk he

Jesus Honors a Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith(A)

24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.[a](B) He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit(C) came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man(D)

31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre(E) and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee(F) and into the region of the Decapolis.[b](G) 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk,(H) and they begged Jesus to place his hand on(I) him.

33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit(J) and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven(K) and with a deep sigh(L) said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.(M)

36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone.(N) But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:24 Many early manuscripts Tyre and Sidon
  2. Mark 7:31 That is, the Ten Cities