11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.(A) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[a] or judges them(B) speaks against the law(C) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,(D) but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,(E) the one who is able to save and destroy.(F) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?(G)

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Footnotes

  1. James 4:11 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.

Warning against Judging Others

11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters.[a] If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

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Footnotes

  1. 4:11 Greek brothers.

Saying Cruel Things about Others

11 My friends, don't say cruel things about others! If you do, or if you condemn others, you are condemning God's Law. And if you condemn the Law, you put yourself above the Law and refuse to obey either it 12 or God who gave it. God is our judge, and he can save or destroy us. What right do you have to condemn anyone?

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11 (A)Do not speak against one another, (B)brothers and sisters. The one who speaks against a brother or sister, or (C)judges his brother or sister, speaks against (D)the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not (E)a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one (F)Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is (G)able to save and to destroy; but (H)who are you, [a]judging your neighbor?

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Footnotes

  1. James 4:12 Lit the one judging

Do Not Judge a Brother

11 (A)Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother (B)and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one [a]Lawgiver, (C)who is able to save and to destroy. (D)Who[b] are you to judge [c]another?

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Footnotes

  1. James 4:12 NU adds and Judge
  2. James 4:12 NU, M But who
  3. James 4:12 NU a neighbor