< James 2 >

1 My brothers, within the glorious faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, do not choose to show favoritism toward persons.
ⲁ̅ⲛⲁ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉⲣⲭⲁ ⲡⲓⲛⲁϩϯ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⳿ⲡⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲛ⳪ Ⲓⲏ̅ⲥ̅ Ⲡⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉϥϫⲟⲩϣⲧ ⳿ⲉϩⲟ.
2 For if a man has entered your assembly having a gold ring and splendid apparel, and if a poor man has also entered, in dirty clothing,
ⲃ̅ⲉϣⲱⲡ ⲅⲁⲣ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉϥ⳿ⲓ ⳿ⲉϧⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲥⲩⲛⲁⲅⲱⲅⲏ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲉⲣⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲟⲩ⳿ϣϭ ⲟⲩⲣ ⳿ⲛⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲧⲟⲓ ⳿ⲉⲡⲉϥⲧⲏⲃ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲉⲃⲥⲱ ⲉⲥⲫⲟⲣⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉϥ⳿ⲓ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲉϧⲟⲩⲛ ϩⲱϥ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲟⲩϩⲏⲕⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲉⲃⲥⲱ ⲉⲥⲁⲑⲓⲱⲟⲩ.
3 and if you are then attentive to the one who is clothed in excellent apparel, so that you say to him, “You may sit in this good place,” but you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit below my footstool,”
ⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲟⲩϣⲧ ⳿ⲉⲫⲏⲉⲧⲉ ϯ ϩⲉⲃⲥⲱ ⲉⲧⲫⲟⲣⲓ ⲧⲟⲓ ϩⲓⲱⲧϥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ϩⲉⲙⲥⲓ ⲛⲁⲕ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁⲓⲙⲁ ⳿ⲛⲕⲁⲗⲱⲥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲟⲥ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓϩⲏⲕⲓ ϩⲱϥ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲟϩⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲁⲧⲕ ϩⲁⲙⲛⲏ ⲓⲉ ϩⲉⲙⲥⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁⲓⲙⲁ ϧⲁⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲫⲙⲁ ⳿ⲛⲭⲁ ⲛⲓϭⲁⲗⲁⲩϫ.
4 are you not judging within yourselves, and have you not become judges with unjust thoughts?
ⲇ̅ⲙⲏ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛⲭⲁ ⲟⲩϣⲓⲃϯ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϩⲣⲏⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛⲉⲣⲣⲉϥϯϩⲁⲡ ⳿ⲛ⳿ϧⲣⲏⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ϩⲁⲛⲙⲉⲩⲓ ⲉⲩϩⲱⲟⲩ.
5 My most beloved brothers, listen. Has not God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that God has promised to those who love him?
ⲉ̅ⲥⲱⲧⲉⲙ ⲛⲁ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲙⲉⲛⲣⲁϯ ⲙⲏ ⲫϯ ⲛⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲡ ⳿ⲛⲛⲓϩⲏⲕⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲕⲟⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲣⲁⲙⲁ⳿ⲟ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲛⲁϩϯ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛ⳿ⲕⲗⲏⲣⲟⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯ ⲙⲉⲧⲟⲩⲣⲟ ⲑⲏ ⲉⲧⲁϥⲱϣ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲛⲏⲉⲑⲛⲁⲙⲉⲛⲣⲓⲧϥ.
6 But you have dishonored the poor. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you through power? And are not they the ones who drag you to judgment?
ⲋ̅⳿ⲛⲑⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲣⲉⲧⲉⲛϣⲉϣ ⲡⲓϩⲏⲕⲓ ⲙⲏ ⲛⲓⲣⲁⲙⲁⲱⲟⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛϫⲱⲣⲓ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲥⲱⲕ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉϩⲁⲛⲙⲁ⳿ⲛϯϩⲁⲡ.
7 Are not they the ones who blaspheme the good name which has been invoked over you?
ⲍ̅ⲙⲏ ⳿ⲛⲑⲱⲟⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲧϫⲉⲟⲩ⳿ⲁ ⳿ⲉⲡⲓⲣⲁⲛ ⲉⲑⲛⲁⲛⲉϥ ⲉⲧⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩϯ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⳿ⲉϫⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ.
8 So if you perfect the regal law, according to the Scriptures, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” then you do well.
ⲏ̅ⲓⲥϫⲉ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲱⲕ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲣⲟ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲛⲓ⳿ⲅⲣⲁⲫⲏ ϫⲉ ⲉⲕ⳿ⲉⲙⲉⲛⲣⲉ ⲡⲉⲕ⳿ϣⲫⲏⲣ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉⲕⲣⲏϯ ⲕⲁⲗⲱⲥ ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲣⲁ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲥ.
9 But if you show favoritism to persons, then you commit a sin, having been convicted again by the law as transgressors.
ⲑ̅ⲓⲥϫⲉ ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛϫⲟⲩϣⲧ ⳿ⲉϩⲟ ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲉⲣϩⲱⲃ ⳿ⲉ⳿ⲫⲛⲟⲃⲓ ⲉⲣⲉ ⳿ⲫⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲥⲟϩⲓ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲉⲛ ϩⲱⲥ ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲃⲁⲧⲏⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ.
10 Now whoever has observed the whole law, yet who offends in one matter, has become guilty of all.
ⲓ̅ⲫⲏ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲑⲛⲁ⳿ⲁⲣⲉϩ ⳿ⲉ⳿ⲫⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉϥϩⲉⲓ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⲁϥϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲉϥⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛⲉⲛⲟⲭⲟⲥ ⳿ⲙⲙⲱⲟⲩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ.
11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not kill.” So if you do not commit adultery, but you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲫⲏ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲧⲁϥϫⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲛⲛⲉⲕⲉⲣⲛⲱⲓⲕ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟϥ ⲟⲛ ⲁϥϫⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲛⲛⲉⲕϧⲱⲧⲉⲃ ⲓⲥϫⲉ ⳿ⲕⲟⲓ ⳿ⲛⲛⲱⲓⲕ ⲁⲛ ⳿ⲕϧⲱⲧⲉⲃ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲕϣⲱⲡⲓ ⲉⲕⲟⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁⲣⲁⲃⲁⲧⲏⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ.
12 So speak and act just as you are beginning to be judged, by the law of liberty.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ⲥⲁϫⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁⲓⲣⲏϯ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⳿ⲁⲣⲓⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲁⲓⲣⲏϯ ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲩⲛⲁϯϩⲁⲡ ⳿ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⳿ⲫⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ϯⲙⲉⲧⲣⲉⲙϩⲉ.
13 For judgment is without mercy toward him who has not shown mercy. But mercy exalts itself above judgment.
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ⲡⲓϩⲁⲡ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲟⲩⲁⲑⲛⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲙⲫⲏⲉⲧⲉ ⳿ⲙⲡⲉϥ⳿ⲓⲣⲓ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲛⲁⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲉ ⳿ⲫⲛⲁⲓ ⲅⲁⲣ ϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⳿ⲉϫⲉⲛ ⲡⲓϩⲁⲡ.
14 My brothers, what benefit is there if someone claims to have faith, but he does not have works? How would faith be able to save him?
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⳿ⲡϩⲏⲟⲩ ⲛⲁ⳿ⲥⲛⲏⲟⲩ ⲉϣⲱⲡ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲁⲓ ϫⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛϯ ⲛⲁϩϯ ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⳿ⲛⲧⲁϥ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛϩⲁⲛ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⲙⲏ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⳿ϣϫⲟⲙ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲛⲁϩϯ ⲛⲁϩⲙⲉϥ ⲁϭⲛⲉ ⲛⲓ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩⲓ.
15 So if a brother or sister is naked and daily in need of food,
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲉϣⲱⲡ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲛ ⲓⲉ ⲟⲩⲥⲱⲛⲓ ⲉⲩⲃⲏϣ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲉⲩϣⲁⲧ ⳿ⲛ⳿ⲧ⳿ϧⲣⲉ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓ⳿ⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ.
16 and if anyone of you were to say to them: “Go in peace, keep warm and nourished,” and yet not give them the things that are necessary for the body, of what benefit is this?
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲑⲏⲛⲟⲩ ϫⲟⲥ ⲛⲱⲟⲩ ϫⲉ ⲙⲁϣⲉ ⲛⲱⲧⲉⲛ ϧⲉⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⳿ϧⲙⲟⲙ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲥⲓ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛ⳿ϣⲧⲉⲙϯ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲱⲟⲩ ⳿ⲛ⳿ⲧ⳿ⲭⲣⲓⲁ ⳿ⲛⲧⲉ ⲡⲓⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲟⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓϩⲏⲟⲩ.
17 Thus even faith, if it does not have works, is dead, in and of itself.
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲏϯ ϩⲱϥ ⲡⲓⲛⲁϩϯ ⲉϣⲱⲡ ⳿ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ϩⲱⲃ ⳿ⲛϧⲏⲧϥ ⳿ϥⲙⲱⲟⲩⲧ ϧⲁⲣⲓ ϧⲁⲣⲟϥ.
18 Now someone may say: “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works! But I will show you my faith by means of works.
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⳿ϥⲛⲁϫⲟⲥ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲁⲓ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⲟⲩⲟⲛⲧⲁⲕ ⳿ⲛⲟⲩⲛⲁϩϯ ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲛⲧⲏⲓ ⳿ⲛϩⲁⲛ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ ⲙⲁⲧⲁⲙⲟⲓ ⳿ⲉⲡⲉⲕⲛⲁϩϯ ⲭⲱⲣⲓⲥ ⲛⲓ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩⲓ ⳿ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲛⲧⲁⲧⲁⲙⲟⲕ ⳿ⲉⲡⲁⲛⲁϩϯ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲁ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩ⳿ⲓ.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. But the demons also believe, and they tremble greatly.
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅⳿ⲛⲑⲟⲕ ⳿ⲭⲛⲁϩϯ ϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲫϯ ⲕⲁⲗⲱⲥ ⲕⲣⲁ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲛⲓⲕⲉⲇⲉⲙⲱⲛ ϩⲱⲟⲩ ⲥⲉⲛⲁϩϯ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲥⲉ⳿ⲥⲑⲉⲣⲧⲉⲣ.
20 So then, are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
ⲕ̅⳿ⲭⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲇⲉ ⳿ⲉ⳿ⲉⲙⲓ ⲱ ⳿ⲫⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲉⲧϣⲟⲩⲓⲧ ϫⲉ ⲡⲓⲛⲁϩϯ ⲭⲱⲣⲓⲥ ⲛⲓ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩⲓ ⳿ϥⲙⲱⲟⲩⲧ.
21 Was not our father Abraham justified by means of works, by offering his son Isaac upon the altar?
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲁⲃⲣⲁⲁⲙ ⲡⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ ⲙⲏ ⲛⲉⲧⲁⲩ⳿ⲑⲙⲁⲓⲟϥ ⲁⲛ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩⲓ ⲉⲧⲁϥ⳿ⲉⲛ ⳿ Ⲓⲥⲁⲁⲕ ⲡⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲓ ϩⲓϫⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲙⲁ⳿ⲛⲉⲣϣⲱⲟⲩϣⲓ.
22 Do you see that faith was cooperating with his works, and that by means of works faith was brought to fulfillment?
ⲕ̅ⲃ̅⳿ⲭⲛⲁⲩ ϫⲉ ⲛⲁⲣⲉ ⲡⲓⲛⲁϩϯ ⲉⲣϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲉⲙ ⲛⲓ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩⲓ ⲁ ⲡⲓⲛⲁϩϯ ϫⲱⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ.
23 And so the Scripture was fulfilled which says: “Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.” And so he was called the friend of God.
ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁⲥϫⲱⲕ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ϯ⳿ⲅⲣⲁⲫⲏ ϫⲉ ⲁϥⲛⲁϩϯ ⳿ⲛϫⲉ ⲁⲃⲣⲁⲁⲙ ⳿ⲉⲫϯ ⲁⲩⲟⲡⲥ ⲛⲁϥ ⳿ⲉⲟⲩⲙⲉⲑⲙⲏⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩϯ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⳿ⲡ⳿ϣⲫⲏⲣ ⳿ⲙⲫϯ.
24 Do you see that a man is justified by means of works, and not by faith alone?
ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ⲧⲉⲧⲉⲛⲛⲁⲩ ϫⲉ ⲁⲩⲛⲁ⳿ⲑⲙⲁⲓⲉ ⲡⲓⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩⲓ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲛⲉ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲡⲓⲛⲁϩϯ ⳿ⲙⲙⲁⲩⲁⲧϥ ⲁⲛ.
25 Similarly also, Rahab, the harlot, was she not justified by works, by receiving the messengers and sending them out through another way?
ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲏϯ ⲟⲛ ⲣⲁⲁⲃ ϯⲡⲟⲣⲛⲏ ⲙⲏ ⲛⲉⲧⲁⲩ⳿ⲑⲙⲁⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩⲓ ⲉⲧⲁⲥϣⲉⲡ ⲛⲓϫⲏⲣ ⳿ⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲟⲩⲟϩ ⲁⲥϯⲧⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⳿ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲉⲛ ⲕⲉⲙⲱⲓⲧ.
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
ⲕ̅ⲋ̅⳿ⲙ⳿ⲫⲣⲏϯ ⲅⲁⲣ ⳿ⲙⲡⲓⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲭⲱⲣⲓⲥ ⲡⲓⲡ͞ⲛⲁ̅ ⳿ϥⲙⲱⲟⲩⲧ ⲡⲁⲓⲣⲏϯ ϩⲱϥ ⲡⲓⲛⲁϩϯ ⲭⲱⲣⲓⲥ ⲛⲓ⳿ϩⲃⲏⲟⲩⲓ ⳿ϥⲙⲱⲟⲩⲧ

< James 2 >