¹³ For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight but the doers of the law who will be justified.^(A)

²² But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.^{(A) 23} For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves^[a] in a mirror;^{(B) 24} for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵ But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.^(C)

⁷ Little children,^[a] let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.

²¹ Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?^{(A) 22} You see that faith was active along with his works, and by works faith was brought to completion.^{(B) 23} Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,”^[a] and he was called the friend of God.^{(C) 24} You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers^[b] and sent them out by another road?^(D)

²⁵ Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law your circumcision has become uncircumcision.^(A)

¹⁶ yet we know that a person is justified^[a] not by the works of the law but through the faith of Jesus Christ.^[b] And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by the faith of Christ^[c] and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law.^(A)

Salvation Is for All

⁵ Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.”^(A)

²¹ But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”^(A)

Children of God

²⁹ If you perceive that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who does right has been born of him.^(A)

¹¹ Now it is evident that no one is reckoned as righteous before God by the law, for “the one who is righteous will live by faith.”^{[a](A) 12} But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, “Whoever does the works of the law^[b] will live by them.”^(B)