Listen, (A)my beloved brothers and sisters: did (B)God not choose the poor [a]of this world to be (C)rich in faith and (D)heirs of the kingdom which He (E)promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and [b]personally (F)drag you into [c]court? (G)Do they not blaspheme the good name [d]by which you have been called?

If, however, you (H)are fulfilling the [e]royal law according to the Scripture, “(I)You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you (J)show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the Law as violators. 10 For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet (K)stumbles in one point, has become (L)guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “(M)Do not commit adultery,” also said, “(N)Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do murder, you have become a violator of the Law. 12 So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged by (O)the law of freedom. 13 For (P)judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy [f]triumphs over judgment.

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:5 Lit to the
  2. James 2:6 Lit they themselves
  3. James 2:6 Lit courts
  4. James 2:7 Lit which has been called upon you
  5. James 2:8 Or law of our King
  6. James 2:13 Lit boasts against

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:(A) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world(B) to be rich in faith(C) and to inherit the kingdom(D) he promised those who love him?(E) But you have dishonored the poor.(F) Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?(G) Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a](H) you are doing right. But if you show favoritism,(I) you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.(J) 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles(K) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.(L) 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b](M) also said, “You shall not murder.”[c](N) 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(O) by the law that gives freedom,(P) 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.(Q) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:8 Lev. 19:18
  2. James 2:11 Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18
  3. James 2:11 Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17