10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles(A) at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.(B) 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[a](C) also said, “You shall not murder.”[b](D) 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(E) by the law that gives freedom,(F) 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.(G) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith and Deeds

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?(H) Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.(I) 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?(J) 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.(K)

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,(L) and I will show you my faith(M) by my deeds.(N) 19 You believe that there is one God.(O) Good! Even the demons believe that(P)—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[c]?(Q) 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?(R) 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together,(S) and his faith was made complete by what he did.(T)

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Footnotes

  1. James 2:11 Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18
  2. James 2:11 Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17
  3. James 2:20 Some early manuscripts dead

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?

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