警告偏私
我的弟兄们，你们信奉我们荣耀的主耶稣基督，就不可按着外貌待人。
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
2若有一个人戴着金戒指，穿着华丽的衣服，进入你们的会堂，又有一个穷人穿着肮脏的衣服也进去，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而你们只看重那穿华丽衣服的人，说：“请坐在这里”，又对那穷人说：“你站在那里”，或“坐在我脚凳旁”；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这岂不是你们偏心待人，用恶意评断人吗？Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
5我亲爱的弟兄们，请听，神岂不是拣选了世上的贫穷人，使他们在信心上富足，并承受他所应许给那些爱他之人的国吗？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你们却羞辱贫穷的人。欺压你们，拉你们到公堂去的，不就是这些富有的人吗？But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7毁谤为你们求告时所奉的尊名的，不就是他们吗？Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?
8经上记着：“要爱邻 ☛“邻”也可译作“人”。如己”，你们若切实守这至尊的律法，你们就做得很好。If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9但你们若按外貌待人就是犯罪，是被律法定为犯法的。But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10因为凡遵守全部律法的，只违背了一条就是违犯了所有的律法。For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11原来那说“不可奸淫”的，也说“不可杀人”。你就是不奸淫，却杀人，也是成为违犯律法的。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既然你们要按使人自由的律法受审判，就要照这律法说话行事。So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13因为对那不怜悯人的，他们要受没有怜悯的审判；怜悯胜过审判。For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
信心和行为
14我的弟兄们，若有人说自己有信心，却没有行为，有什么益处呢？这信心能救他吗？What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15若是弟兄或是姊妹没有衣服穿，又缺少日用的饮食；If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16你们中间有人对他们说：“平平安安地去吧！愿你们穿得暖，吃得饱”，却不给他们身体所需要的，这有什么益处呢？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信心也是这样，若没有行为是死的。Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18但是有人会说：“你有信心，我有行为。”把你没有行为的信心给我看，我就藉着我的行为把我的信心给你看。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你信神只有一位，你信得很好；连鬼魔也信，且怕得发抖。Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20你这虚浮的人哪，你愿意知道没有行为的信心是没有用的吗？But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21我们的祖宗亚伯拉罕把他儿子以撒献在坛上，岂不是因行为得称义吗？Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22可见信心是与他的行为相辅并行，而且信心是因着行为才得以成全的。Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23这正应验了经上所说：“亚伯拉罕信了神，这就算他为义”；他又得称为神的朋友。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这样看来，人称义是因着行为，不是单因着信。Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25同样，妓女喇合接待使者，又放他们从另一条路出去，不也是因行为称义吗？Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26所以，就如身体没有灵魂是死的，信心没有行为也是死的。For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.