¶ My brethren, have not the faith¹ of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord² of glory, with³ respect of persons.

For if there come unto your assembly⁴ a man with a gold ring, in goodly⁵ apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile⁶ raiment;

And ye⁷ have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place⁸; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

Are ye not then partial⁹ in yourselves, and are become judges¹⁰ of evil thoughts?

Hearken¹¹, my beloved brethren, Hath not¹² God chosen the poor of this world rich¹³ in faith, and heirs¹⁴ of the¹⁵ kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

But ye¹⁶ have despised the poor. Do¹⁷ not rich men oppress you, and¹⁸ draw you before the judgment seats?

Do not they blaspheme¹⁹ that worthy²⁰ name by²¹ the which ye are called?

¶ If ye fulfil the royal²² law according to the scripture, Thou²³ shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do²⁴ well:

But if²⁵ ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are²⁶ convinced of the law as transgressors²⁷.

¶ For²⁸ whosoever²⁹ shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now³¹ if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

So speak³² ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the³³ law of liberty.

For he³⁴ shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and³⁵ mercy rejoiceth³⁶ against judgment.

¶ What³⁷ doth it profit, my brethren, though³⁸ a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can³⁹ faith save him?

⁴⁰If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

And one⁴¹ 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; what⁴² doth it profit?

Even so⁴³ faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone⁴⁴.

Yea, a man may say, Thou⁴⁵ hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works⁴⁶, and I will⁴⁷ shew thee my faith by my works.

⁴⁸Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest⁴⁹ well: the⁵⁰ devils also believe, and tremble.

¶ But wilt thou know, O vain⁵¹ man, that⁵² faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham⁵³ our father justified⁵⁴ by works, when⁵⁵ he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Seest thou⁵⁶ how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made⁵⁷ perfect?

And the scripture⁵⁸ was fulfilled which saith, Abraham⁵⁹ believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend⁶⁰ of God.

⁶¹Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Likewise also was⁶² not Rahab the harlot justified⁶⁴ by works, when⁶⁵ she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

For as⁶⁶ the body without the spirit⁶⁷ is dead, so faith without works is dead also.