James 2:1–13

Favoritism Forbidden

2My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious^t Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.^{u 2}Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges^v with evil thoughts?

⁵Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^w Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^x to be rich in faith^y and to inherit the kingdom^z he promised those who love him?^{a 6}But you have dishonored the poor.^b Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?^{c 7}Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

⁸If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”^ad you are doing right. ⁹But if you show favoritism,^e you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.^{f 10}For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles^g at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.^{h 11}For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”^bi also said, “You shall not murder.”^cj If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹²Speak and act as those who are going to be judged^k by the law that gives freedom,^{l 13}because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.^m Mercy triumphs over judgment.