THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES 2

1 My brethren have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons

2 For 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

3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing and say unto him Sit thou here in a good place and say to the poor Stand thou there or sit here under my footstool

4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves and are become judges of evil thoughts

5 Hearken my beloved brethren Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him

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

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

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself ye do well

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

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

11 For he that said Do not commit adultery said also Do not kill Now if thou commit no adultery yet if thou kill thou art become a transgressor of the law

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

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy and mercy rejoiceth against judgment

14 What doth it profit my brethren though a man say he hath faith and have not works can faith save him

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

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

17 Even so faith if it hath not works is dead being alone

18 Yea a man may say Thou hast faith and I have works shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works

19 Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well the devils also believe and tremble

20 But wilt thou know O vain man that faith without works is dead

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

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness and he was called the Friend of God

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only

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

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