不可以貌取人
1我的弟兄姊妹，你們既然信了我們榮耀的主耶穌基督，就不可以貌取人。 2比方說，一個手戴金飾、衣著華麗的人來參加你們的聚會，一個衣衫襤褸的人也來參加， 3你們就看重那衣著華麗的，對他說：「請上座。」卻對那窮人說：「你站在那邊。」或「坐在我的腳凳邊。」 4你們這樣做難道不是偏心待人，心懷惡意地判斷人嗎？
5我親愛的弟兄姊妹，請聽我說，上帝不是揀選了窮人，使他們在信心上富足，並承受祂應許賜給那些愛祂之人的國度嗎？ 6你們反倒侮辱窮人。其實欺壓你們、抓你們上法庭的不是那些富人嗎？ 7不正是他們褻瀆你們所敬奉的尊名嗎？
8如果你們能切實行出聖經中「要愛鄰如己」這條至尊的律法，就好了。 9如果你們偏待人，嫌貧愛富，便是犯罪，律法要將你們定罪。 10人只要觸犯律法中的一條，就等於違犯了全部， 11因為那位說「不可通姦」的，也說過「不可殺人」。如果你沒有犯通姦罪，卻殺了人，你仍違犯了律法。 12既然你們要按使人自由的律法受審判，就應該按律法行事為人。 13因為不憐憫人的會受到無情的審判，但憐憫勝過審判。
信心和行為
14我的弟兄姊妹，如果有人自稱有信心，卻沒有行為來證實，有什麼用呢？這種信心能夠救他嗎？ 15如果有弟兄姊妹缺衣少食， 16你們只是對他們說：「安心走吧，願你們穿得暖，吃得飽」，卻不幫助他解決實際困難，這有什麼用呢？ 17因此，信心若沒有行為，就是死的。
18必有人說：「你有信心，我有行為。」請把你沒有行為的信心指給我看，我就藉著行為把我的信心顯給你看。 19你相信上帝只有一位，你信得沒錯，鬼魔也相信，而且恐懼戰抖。
20愚蠢的人啊，你們不知道沒有行為的信心是死的嗎？ 21我們的祖先亞伯拉罕把兒子以撒獻在祭壇上的時候，難道不是因行為而被稱為義人嗎？ 22可見他的信心和行為相稱，而且信心要有行為才是完全的。 23這正應驗了聖經的記載：「亞伯拉罕信上帝，就被算為義人」，並且被稱為「上帝的朋友」。 24可見人要被上帝算為義人必須有與信心相稱的行為，並非單有信心。 25還有妓女喇合，她收留使者，把他們藏在家裡，又送他們從別的路逃生，不也是因行為而被稱為義人嗎？
26身體沒有靈魂是死的，同樣，信心沒有行為也是死的。
1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2For 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; 3And 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: 4Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5Hearken, 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? 6But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11For 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. 12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16And 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? 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, 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. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And 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. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
