1 | My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of
glory, with respect of persons.
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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;
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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:
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4 | Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil
thoughts?
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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?
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6 | But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you
before the judgment seats?
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7 | Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
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8 | If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
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9 | But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the
law as transgressors.
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10 | For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he
is guilty of all.
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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.
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12 | So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of
liberty.
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13 | For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and
mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
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14 | What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and
have not works? can faith save him?
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15 | If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
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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?
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17 | Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
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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.
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19 | Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also
believe, and tremble.
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20 | But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
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21 | Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac
his son upon the altar?
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22 | Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made
perfect?
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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.
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24 | Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
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25 | Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had
received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
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26 | For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead
also.
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