2:1  My brothers, don't hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.

2:2  For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your assembly, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in;

2:3  and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, "Sit here in a good place;" and you tell the poor man, "Stand there," or "Sit by my footstool;"

2:4  haven't you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

2:5  Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn't God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

2:6  But you have dishonored the poor man. Don't the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts?

2:7  Don't they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?

2:8  However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well.

2:9  But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

2:10  For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he has become guilty of all.

2:11  For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

2:12  So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

2:13  For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

2:14  What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can that faith save him?

2:15  And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,

2:16  and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

2:17  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

2:18  Yes, a man will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

2:19  You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.

2:20  But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

2:21  Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

2:22  You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;

2:23  and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God.

2:24  You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith.

2:25  In like manner wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

2:26  For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.