| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. | 1My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. |
| 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. | 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. |
| 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," | 3If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” |
| 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? | 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? |
| 5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? | 5Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him? |
| 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? | 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? |
| 7Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? | 7Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called? |
| 8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. | 8If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. |
| 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. | 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. |
| 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. | 10Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. |
| 11For he who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. | 11For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. |
| 12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, | 12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. |
| 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. | 13For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. |
| 14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? | 14What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? |
| 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. | 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. |
| 16If 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? | 16If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? |
| 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. | 17So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead. |
| 18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. | 18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. |
| 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. | 19You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. |
| 20You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? | 20O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless? |
| 21Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? | 21Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? |
| 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. | 22You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did. |
| 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. | 23And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. |
| 24You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. | 24As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone. |
| 25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? | 25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute justified by her actions when she welcomed the spies and sent them off on another route? |
| 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. | 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. |
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