18  But some one will say, Thou hast faith and I have works. Shew me thy faith without works, and I from my works will shew thee my faith. 19  Thou believest that God is one. Thou doest well. The demons even 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  Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected. 23  And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called Friend of God. 24  Ye see that a man is justified on the principle of works, and not on the principle of faith only. 25  But was not in like manner also Rahab the harlot justified on the principle of works, when she had received the messengers and put them forth by another way? 26  For as the body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Chapter 3

1  Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment. 2  For we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too. 3  Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies. 4  Behold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will. 5  Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles! 6  and the tongue is fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell. 7  For every species both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and of sea animals, is tamed and has been tamed by the human species; 8  but the tongue can no one among men tame; it is an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison. 9  Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after the likeness of God. 10  Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus. 11  Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter? 12  Can, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither can salt water make sweet water.