Santiago 2
Bible in Basic English
1My brothers, if you have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory, do not take a man's position into account.
2For if a man comes into your Synagogue in fair clothing and with a gold ring, and a poor man comes in with dirty clothing,
3And you do honour to the man in fair clothing and say, Come here and take this good place; and you say to the poor man, Take up your position there, or be seated at my feet;
4Is there not a division in your minds? have you not become judges with evil thoughts?
5Give ear, my dear brothers; are not those who are poor in the things of this world marked out by God to have faith as their wealth, and for their heritage the kingdom which he has said he will give to those who have love for him?
6But you have put the poor man to shame. Are not the men of wealth rulers over you? do they not take you by force before their judges?
7Do they not say evil of the holy name which was given to you?
8But if you keep the greatest law of all, as it is given in the holy Writings, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself, you do well:
9But if you take a man's position into account, you do evil, and are judged as evil-doers by the law.
10For anyone who keeps all the law, but makes a slip in one point, is judged to have gone against it all.
11For he who said, Do not be untrue in married life, is the same who said, Put no man to death. Now if you are not untrue in married life, but you put a man to death, the law is broken.
12Let your words and your acts be those of men who are to be judged by the law which makes free.
13For the man who has had no mercy will be judged without mercy, but mercy takes pride in overcoming judging.
14What use is it, my brothers, for a man to say that he has faith, if he does nothing? will such a faith give him salvation?
15If a brother or a sister is without clothing and in need of the day's food,
16And one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warm and full of food; but you do not give them the things of which their bodies have need, what profit is there in this?
17Even so faith without works is dead.
18But a man may say, You have faith and I have works; let me see your faith without your works, and I will make my faith clear to you by my works.
19You have the belief that God is one, and you do well: the evil spirits have the same belief, shaking with fear.
20Do you not see, O foolish man, that faith without works is of no use?
21Was not the righteousness of Abraham our father judged by his works, when he made an offering of Isaac his son on the altar?
22You see that his faith was helping his works and was made complete by them;
23And the holy Writings were put into effect which said, And Abraham had faith in God and it was put to his account as righteousness; and he was named the friend of God.
24You see that a man's righteousness is judged by his works and not by his faith only.
25And in the same way, was not the righteousness of Rahab, the loose woman, judged by her works, when she took into her house those who were sent and let them go out by another way?
26For as the body without the spirit is dead even so faith without works is dead.
Reina-Valera 1909
1HERMANOS míos, no tengáis la fe de nuestro Señor Jesucristo glorioso en acepción de personas.
2Porque si en vuestra congregación entra un hombre con anillo de oro, y de preciosa ropa, y también entra un pobre con vestidura vil,
3Y tuviereis respeto al que trae la vestidura preciosa, y le dijereis: Siéntate tú aquí en buen lugar: y dijereis al pobre: Estáte tú allí en pie; ó siéntate aquí debajo de mi estrado:
4¿No juzgáis en vosotros mismos, y venís á ser jueces de pensamientos malos?
5Hermanos míos amados, oid: ¿No ha elegido Dios los pobres de este mundo, ricos en fe, y herederos del reino que ha prometido á los que le aman?
6Mas vosotros habéis afrentado al pobre. ¿No os oprimen los ricos, y no son ellos los mismos que os arrastran á los juzgados?
7¿No blasfeman ellos el buen nombre que fué invocado sobre vosotros?
8Si en verdad cumplís vosotros la ley real, conforme á la Escritura: Amarás á tu prójimo como á ti mismo, bien hacéis:
9Mas si hacéis acepción de personas, cometéis pecado, y sois reconvenidos de la ley como transgresores.
10Porque cualquiera que hubiere guardado toda la ley, y ofendiere en un punto, es hecho culpado de todos.
11Porque el que dijo: No cometerás adulterio, también ha dicho: No matarás. Ahora bien, si no hubieres cometido adulterio, pero hubieres matado, ya eres hecho transgresor de la ley.
12Así hablad, y así obrad, como los que habéis de ser juzgados por la ley de libertad.
13Porque juicio sin misericordia será hecho con aquel que no hiciere misericordia: y la misericordia se gloría contra el juicio.
14Hermanos míos, ¿qué aprovechará si alguno dice que tiene fe, y no tiene obras? ¿Podrá la fe salvarle?
15Y si el hermano ó la hermana están desnudos, y tienen necesidad del mantenimiento de cada día,
16Y alguno de vosotros les dice: Id en paz, calentaos y hartaos; pero no les diereis las cosas que son necesarias para el cuerpo: ¿qué aprovechará?
17Así también la fe, si no tuviere obras, es muerta en sí misma.
18Pero alguno dirá: Tú tienes fe, y yo tengo obras: muéstrame tu fe sin tus obras, y yo te mostraré mi fe por mis obras.
19Tú crees que Dios es uno; bien haces: también los demonios creen, y tiemblan.
20¿Mas quieres saber, hombre vano, que la fe sin obras es muerta?
21¿No fué justificado por las obras Abraham nuestro padre, cuando ofreció á su hijo Isaac sobre el altar?
22¿No ves que la fe obró con sus obras, y que la fe fué perfecta por las obras?
23Y fué cumplida la Escritura que dice: Abraham creyó á Dios, y le fué imputado á justicia, y fué llamado amigo de Dios.
24Vosotros veis, pues, que el hombre es justificado por las obras, y no solamente por la fe.
25Asimismo también Rahab la ramera, ¿no fué justificada por obras, cuando recibió los mensajeros, y los echó fuera por otro camino?
26Porque como el cuerpo sin espíritu está muerto, así también la fe sin obras es muerta.
King James Version
1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2For 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;
3And 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:
4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5Hearken, 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?
6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11For 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.
12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16And 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?
17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18Yea, 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.
19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23And 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.
24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
World English Bible
1My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.
2For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in,
3and 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”
4haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5Listen, 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?
6But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts?
7Don’t they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called?
8However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
9But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
10For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
11For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
12So speak and so do as men who are to be judged by the law of freedom.
13For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
15And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,
16and 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?
17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
18Yes, 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.
19You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder.
20But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?
21Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected.
23So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
24You see then that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
25In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.