James Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5

King James New American Standard Bible
  • 1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
  • 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;
  • 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:
  • 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
  • 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?
  • 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
  • 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
  • 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
  • 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
  • 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
  • 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.
  • 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
  • 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
  • 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
  • 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
  • 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?
  • 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
  • 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.
  • 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
  • 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
  • 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
  • 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
  • 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.
  • 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
  • 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
  • 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
  • 1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
  • 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes,
  • 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,”
  • 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?
  • 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
  • 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?
  • 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
  • 8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,” you are doing well.
  • 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
  • 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
  • 11 For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
  • 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
  • 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
  • 14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
  • 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
  • 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
  • 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
  • 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
  • 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
  • 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
  • 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
  • 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
  • 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.
  • 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
  • 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
  • 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission.
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