Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

James 1
²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
²⁶ If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
²⁷ Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
James 2
¹ My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
² For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes.
³ If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well,
⁴ doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?
⁵ Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?
⁶ But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
⁷ Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?
⁸ Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”