1 fratres mei nolite in personarum acceptione habere
fidem Domini nostri Iesu Christi gloriae
2 etenim si introierit in conventu vestro vir
aureum anulum habens in veste candida
introierit autem et pauper in sordido habitu
3 et intendatis in eum qui indutus est veste praeclara
et dixeritis tu sede hic bene
pauperi autem dicatis
tu sta illic aut sede sub scabillo pedum meorum
4 nonne iudicatis apud vosmet ipsos
et facti estis iudices cogitationum iniquarum
5 audite fratres mei dilectissimi
nonne Deus elegit pauperes in hoc mundo
divites in fide et heredes regni
quod repromisit Deus diligentibus se
6 vos autem exhonorastis pauperem
nonne divites per potentiam opprimunt vos
et ipsi trahunt vos ad iudicia
7 nonne ipsi blasphemant bonum nomen
quod invocatum est super vos
8 si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum scripturas
diliges proximum tuum sicut te ipsum bene facitis
9 si autem personas accipitis peccatum operamini
redarguti a lege quasi transgressores
10 quicumque autem totam legem servaverit
offendat autem in uno factus est omnium reus
11 qui enim dixit non moechaberis dixit et non occides
quod si non moechaberis occides autem
factus es transgressor legis
12 sic loquimini et sic facite
sicut per legem libertatis incipientes iudicari
13 iudicium enim sine misericordia illi
qui non fecit misericordiam
superexultat autem misericordia iudicio
14 quid proderit fratres mei si fidem quis dicat se habere
opera autem non habeat
numquid poterit fides salvare eum
15 si autem frater aut soror nudi sunt
et indigent victu cotidiano
16 dicat autem aliquis de vobis illis
ite in pace calefacimini et saturamini
non dederitis autem eis quae necessaria sunt corporis
quid proderit
17 sic et fides si non habeat opera
mortua est in semet ipsam
18 sed dicet quis
tu fidem habes et ego opera habeo
ostende mihi fidem tuam sine operibus
et ego ostendam tibi ex operibus fidem meam
19 tu credis quoniam unus est Deus bene facis
et daemones credunt et contremescunt
20 vis autem scire o homo inanis
quoniam fides sine operibus otiosa est
21 Abraham pater noster nonne ex operibus iustificatus est
offerens Isaac filium suum super altare
22 vides quoniam fides cooperabatur operibus illius
et ex operibus fides consummata est
23 et suppleta est scriptura dicens
credidit Abraham Deo et reputatum est illi ad iustitiam
et amicus Dei appellatus est
24 videtis quoniam ex operibus iustificatur homo
et non ex fide tantum
25 similiter autem et Raab meretrix
nonne ex operibus iustificata est
suscipiens nuntios et alia via eiciens
26 sicut enim corpus sine spiritu emortuum est
ita et fides sine operibus mortua est
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 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; 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: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 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? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point , he is guilty of all. 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. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.