James 2-3

New International Version

Favoritism Forbidden

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious^(A) Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.^{(B) 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. ³ If 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,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges^(C) with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^(D) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^(E) to be rich in faith^(F) and to inherit the kingdom^(G) he promised those who love him?^{(H) 6} But you have dishonored the poor.^(I) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?^{(J) 7} Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”^[a](K) you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism,^(L) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.^{(M) 10} For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles^(N) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.^{(O) 11} For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”^[b](P) also said, “You shall not murder.”^[c](Q) If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

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

Faith and Deeds

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?^(U) Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.^{(V) 16} If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?^{(W) 17} In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.^(X)

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,^(Y) and I will show you my faith^(Z) by my deeds.^{(AA) 19} You believe that there is one God.^(AB) Good! Even the demons believe that^(AC)—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[d]?^{(AD) 21} Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?^{(AE) 22} You see that his faith and his actions were working together,^(AF) and his faith was made complete by what he did.^{(AG) 23} And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[e](AH) and he was called God’s friend.^{(AI) 24} You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

²⁵ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?^{(AJ) 26} As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.^(AK)

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers,^(AL) my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged^(AM) more strictly.^{(AN) 2} We all stumble^(AO) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say^(AP) is perfect,^(AQ) able to keep their whole body in check.^(AR)

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.^{(AS) 4} Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.^(AT) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire,^(AU) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^(AV) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^(AW)

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^(AX)

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.^{(AY) 10} Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?^(AZ) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it^(BA) by their good life, by deeds^(BB) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition^(BC) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.^{(BD) 15} Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven^(BE) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.^{(BF) 16} For where you have envy and selfish ambition,^(BG) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven^(BH) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,^(BI) considerate, submissive, full of mercy^(BJ) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.^{(BK) 18} Peacemakers^(BL) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.^(BM)