James 2:1-13 - Partiality Forbidden

¹ My brethren, hold not, in respect of persons, the faith of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, ² for if there may come into your synagogue a man with gold ring, in gay raiment, and there may come in also a poor man in vile raiment, ³ and ye may look upon him bearing the gay raiment, and may say to him, 'Thou -- sit thou here well,' and to the poor man may say, 'Thou -- stand thou there, or, Sit thou here under my footstool,' -- ⁴ ye did not judge fully in yourselves, and did become ill-reasoning judges.

⁵ Hearken, my brethren beloved, did not God choose the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the reign that He promised to those loving Him? ⁶ and ye did dishonour the poor one; do not the rich oppress you and themselves draw you to judgment-seats; ⁷ do they not themselves speak evil of the good name that was called upon you?

⁸ If, indeed, royal law ye complete, according to the Writing, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,' -- ye do well; ⁹ and if ye accept persons, sin ye do work, being convicted by the law as transgressors; ¹⁰ for whoever the whole law shall keep, and shall stumble in one point, he hath become guilty of all; ¹¹ for He who is saying, 'Thou mayest not commit adultery,' said also, 'Thou mayest do no murder;' and if thou shalt not commit adultery, and shalt commit murder, thou hast become a transgressor of law;

¹² so speak ye and so do, as about by a law of liberty to be judged, ¹³ for the judgment without kindness is to him not having done kindness, and exult doth kindness over judgment.