James

Teaches practical wisdom for living out one's faith through good works.

Chapter 2

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

*My friends, don't forget that our Lord Jesus Christ, the great glorious one, shows no favoritism when it comes to faith.

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;

*If a man with a gold ring and nice clothes comes to your gathering, along with a poor man wearing dirty clothes,

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:

*You show favor to those who wear fancy clothes and tell them to sit in a good spot. But you treat the poor poorly, making them stand or sit under your footrest.

4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

*Are you not yourself biased, and have now become judges of bad thinking?

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?

*Listen, dear brothers, hasn't God picked the poor in this world who have strong faith and are inheritors of the kingdom he has promised to those who love him?

6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

*But you've treated the poor badly. Don't wealthy people hurt you, and bring you to places where you'll be judged?

7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

*Don't they dishonor the great name you were given?

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

*If you follow the important rule from the writings, which is to love your neighbor like you love yourself, then you are doing a good thing.

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

*But if you favor some people, you're doing something wrong and you know you've broken the rules.

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

*If someone keeps the entire law but breaks even one rule, they are guilty of breaking all the rules.

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.

*He who said not to have an affair with someone else also said not to kill. So if you don't commit adultery, but still kill, you break the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

*So act and talk like those who will be judged by the freedom law.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

*He will be judged without mercy if he didn't show mercy, while mercy celebrates instead of judgment.

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

*What good is it, my friends, if someone says they believe but don't act on it? Can just believing save them?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

*If a family member has no clothes and isn't able to get enough food every day,

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?

*And one of you tells them, Go in peace, be warm and full; but you don't give them the things their bodies need. So, what good does that do?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

*Just like that, if faith doesn't come with actions, it's lifeless and isolated.

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.

*Yes, someone might say, You believe, and I do actions: show me your belief without actions, and I'll show you my belief through actions.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

*You believe in one God; that's good. Even devils believe and get scared.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

*But do you want to know, Mr. proud person, that believing without actions is useless?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

*Wasn't Abraham, our father, considered righteous because of his actions, when he sacrificed his son Isaac on an altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

*Do you see how faith worked together with actions, and through actions, faith became complete?

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.

*The Bible saying came true: Abraham trusted God, and it counted as him being good; they called him God's friend.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

*You can see that a person is declared righteous, or saved, through their actions, and not just by having faith alone.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

*Wasn't Rahab, the prostitute, justified by her actions when she welcomed the messengers and guided them to a different route?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

*Just like a body can't work without its spirit, faith that doesn't lead to action is also considered dead.

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