James:2

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* My brethren , do not hold your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ , the Lord of glory , with partiality . * For if there comes into your assembly a man with a gold ring , in fine apparel , and there also comes in a poor man in shabby clothing , * And you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing , and say to him , Sit here in a good place ; and say to the poor man , Stand there , or sit here beside my footstool : * Have you not then discriminated among yourselves , and become judges with evil thoughts ? * Listen , my beloved brethren , Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith , and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him ? * But you have despised the poor . Is it not the rich who oppress you , and drag you into court ? * Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called ? * If you fulfill the royal law , according to the scripture , You shall love your neighbour as yourself , you do well , * But if you show partiality , you commit sin , and are convicted by the law as transgressors . * For whoever shall keep the whole law , and yet stumble at one point , is guilty of breaking it all . * For he who said , Do not commit adultery , also said , Do not kill . Now if you do not commit adultery , but you do kill , you have become a transgressor of the law . * So speak , and so act , as those who shall be judged by the law of liberty . * For he shall receive judgment without mercy , who has shown no mercy ; mercy triumphs over judgment . * What does it profit , my brethren , if a man say he has faith , but has not works ? can that faith save him ? * If a brother or sister is without clothing , and destitute of daily food , * And one of you says to him , Depart in peace , be warmed and filled ; yet you do not give him the things which are necessary for the body ; of what benefit is that ? * Even so faith , if it does not have works , is dead , being alone . * But a man may say , You have faith , and I have works : show me your faith without your works , and I will show you my faith by my works . * You believe that there is one God ; you do well : the devils believe also , and tremble . * Do you want to be shown , O foolish man , that faith without works is dead ? * Was not Abraham our father justified by works , when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar ? * You see that faith was active with his works , and by works was faith made perfect ; * And the scripture was fulfilled which says , Abraham believed God , and it was credited to him as righteousness : and he was called the Friend of God . * You see then that a man is justified by works , and not by faith only . * And in the same way was not Rahab the prostitute justified by works , when she received the messengers , and had sent them out another way ? * For as the body without the spirit is dead , so faith without works is dead .

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