James 2–3

Chapter 2

¹My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of glory, with respect of persons: ²for if there come unto your synagogue a man with a gold ring in splendid apparel, and a poor man also come in in vile apparel, ³and ye look upon him who wears the splendid apparel, and say, Do thou sit here well, and say to the poor, Do thou stand there, or sit here under my footstool: ⁴have ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts? ⁵Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor as to the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to them that love him? ⁶But ye have despised the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and do not they drag you before the tribunals? ⁷And do not they blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you?

⁸If indeed ye keep the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well. ⁹But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰For whoever shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one point, he has come under the guilt of breaking all. ¹¹For he who said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become transgressor of the law. ¹²So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by the law of liberty; ¹³for judgment will be without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

¹⁴What is the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him? ¹⁵Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶and one from amongst you say to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled; but give not to them the needful things for the body, what is the profit? ¹⁷So also faith, if it have not works, is dead by itself. ¹⁸But 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. ¹⁹Thou believest that God is one. Thou doest well. The demons even believe, and tremble. ²⁰But wilt thou 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? ²²Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and that by works faith was perfected. ²³And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness, and he was called Friend of God. ²⁴Ye see that a man is justified on the principle of works, and not on the principle of faith only. ²⁵But 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? ²⁶For as the body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Chapter 3

¹Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment. ²For we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too. ³Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies. ⁴Behold 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. ⁵Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles! ⁶and 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. ⁷For 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; ⁸but the tongue can no one among men tame; it is an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison. ⁹Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after the likeness of God. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus. ¹¹Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter? ¹²Can, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither can salt water make sweet water.

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom; ¹⁴but if ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish. ¹⁶For where emulation and strife are, there is disorder and every evil thing. ¹⁷But the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned. ¹⁸But the fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.