James 2:1-13 - Partiality Forbidden

¹ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, of glory, with distinction of faces. ² For if there come into your synagogue a man wearing gold rings on is fingers, in brilliant clothing, and there come in also a beggar in filthy clothing; ³ And ye look toward him bearing the brilliant clothing, and ye say to him, Sit thou well here; and to the beggar ye say, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: ⁴ Were ye not separated among yourselves, and become judges of evil reflections?

⁵ Hear, my dearly beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the beggars of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them loving him? ⁶ And ye have despised the beggar. Do not the rich bring you into subjection, and draw you before tribunals? ⁷ And do they not defame the good name called upon you?

⁸ If yet ye complete the royal law according to the writing, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: ⁹ And if ye make distinction of faces, ye work sin, being convicted under the law as transgressors. ¹⁰ For whoever shall keep the whole law, and stumble in one, has become bound of all. ¹¹ For he having said, Thou shouldest not commit adultery, said also, Thou shouldest not kill: and if thou commit not adultery, and dost kill, thou hast become a transgressor of the law.

¹² So speak ye, and so do, as about to be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³ For unpropitiated judgment to him not doing mercy; and mercy boasteth against judgment.