James 1:19-2:26

New International Version

Listening and Doing

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters,^(A) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak^(B) and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger^(C) does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ²¹ Therefore, get rid of^(D) all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,^(E) which can save you.

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.^{(F) 23} Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,^(G) and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.^(H)

²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues^(I) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after^(J) orphans and widows^(K) in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.^(L)

Favoritism Forbidden

2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious^(M) Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.^{(N) 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^(O) with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^(P) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^(Q) to be rich in faith^(R) and to inherit the kingdom^(S) he promised those who love him?^{(T) 6} But you have dishonored the poor.^(U) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?^{(V) 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](W) you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism,^(X) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.^{(Y) 10} For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles^(Z) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.^{(AA) 11} For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”^[b](AB) also said, “You shall not murder.”^[c](AC) 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^(AD) by the law that gives freedom,^{(AE) 13} because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.^(AF) 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?^(AG) Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.^{(AH) 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?^{(AI) 17} In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.^(AJ)

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

Show me your faith without deeds,^(AK) and I will show you my faith^(AL) by my deeds.^{(AM) 19} You believe that there is one God.^(AN) Good! Even the demons believe that^(AO)—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[d]?^{(AP) 21} Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?^{(AQ) 22} You see that his faith and his actions were working together,^(AR) and his faith was made complete by what he did.^{(AS) 23} And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”^[e](AT) and he was called God’s friend.^{(AU) 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?^{(AV) 26} As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.^(AW)