The General Epistle of James

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

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

For if there shall come into your assembly a man having a golden ring, in fine apparel, and there shall come in also a poor man in mean attire,

And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool:

Do you not judge within yourselves, and are become judges of unjust thoughts?

Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?

But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? and do not they draw you before the judgment seats?

Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?

If then you fulfill the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.

But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being reproved by the law as transgressors.

And whosoever shall keep the whole law, but offend in one point, is become guilty of all.

For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

So speak ye, and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.

For judgment without mercy to him that hath not done mercy. And mercy exalteth itself above judgment.

Faith and Works

(Galatians 3:1–9)

What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?

And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food:

And one of you say to them: Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; yet give them not those things that are necessary for the body, what shall it profit?

So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.

But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works; and I will shew thee, by works, my faith.

Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.

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

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?

Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect?

And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.

Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?

And in like manner also Rahab the harlot, was not she justified by works, receiving the messengers, and sending them out another way?

For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.

My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.

For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue,(a) and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in,

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”

haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

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?

But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts?

Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?

However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”(b) you do well.

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

For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,”(c) also said, “Do not commit murder.”(d) Now if you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

So speak and so do as men who are to be judged by the law of freedom.

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

Faith and Works

(Galatians 3:1–9)

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

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

and one of you tells them, “Go in peace. Be warmed and filled;” yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

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

Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder.

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

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

You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected.

So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,”(e) and he was called the friend of God.

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

In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

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

Footnotes

(a)2:2 or, meeting

(b)2:8 ℘ Leviticus 19:18

(d)2:11 ℘ Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17

(e)2:23 ℘ Genesis 15:6