My brothers and sisters,
Believers in our Glorious Lord Jesus Christ
Must Not Show Favoritism.
2 Suppose a man comes into your Meeting
Wearing a Gold Ring and Fine Clothes,
And a poor man in Filthy Old Clothes also come in.
3 If 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,”
4 Have you not Discriminated Among Yourselves
And become Judges with Evil Thoughts?
5 Listen, my 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?
6 But 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?
7 Are they not the Ones
Who are Blaspheming the Noble Name
Of Him to Whom you Belong?
8 If you really Keep the Royal Law
Found in the Scriptures,
“Love your Neighbor as Yourself,”
You are doing Right.
9 But if you Show Favoritism,
You Sin and are Convicted
By the Law as Lawbreakers.
10 For whoever Keeps the Whole Law
And yet Stumbles at Just One Point
Is Guilty of Breaking All Of It.
11 For 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.
12 Speak and Act
As those who are Going to be Judged by the Law
That gives Freedom,
13 Because Judgment without Mercy
Will be shown to Anyone
Who has not been Merciful.
MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGMENT.
(James 2:1-13, NIV)
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