James 2 — Chapter 2

¹My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Yahusha HaMashiach (Jesus Christ), the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

²For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

³And you have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit you here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand you there, or sit here under my footstool:

⁴Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

⁵Hearken, my beloved brethren, Has not Elohim (God) chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him?

⁶But you have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

⁷Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which you are called?

⁸If you fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbour as thyself, you do well:

⁹But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

¹⁰For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

¹¹For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law.

¹²So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

¹³For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoices against judgment.

¹⁴What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

¹⁵If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

¹⁶And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled; notwithstanding you give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?

¹⁷Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.

¹⁸Yea, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: shew me your faith without your works, and I will shew you my faith by my works.

¹⁹You believe that there is one Elohim (God); you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

²⁰But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

²²See you how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

²³And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed Elohim (God), and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of Elohim (God).

²⁴You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

²⁵Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

²⁶For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.