< James 2 >

1 My brethren, you must not make distinctions between one man and another while you are striving to maintain faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our glory.
ⲁ̅ⲚⲀⲤⲚⲎⲞⲨ ⲘⲠⲈⲢⲬⲀ ⲠⲒⲚⲀϨϮ ⲚⲦⲈⲠⲰⲞⲨ ⲚⲦⲈⲠⲈⲚϬⲞⲒⲤ ⲒⲎⲤⲞⲨⲤ ⲠⲬⲢⲒⲤⲦⲞⲤ ⲚⲦⲈⲚ ⲐⲎⲚⲞⲨ ϦⲈⲚⲞⲨⲘⲈⲦⲢⲈϤϪⲞⲨϢⲦ ⲈϨⲞ
2 For suppose a man comes into one of your meetings wearing gold rings and fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man wearing shabby clothes,
ⲃ̅ⲈϢⲰⲠ ⲄⲀⲢ ⲚⲦⲈϤⲒ ⲈϦⲞⲨⲚ ⲈⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚⲤⲨⲚⲀⲄⲰⲄⲎ ⲚϪⲈⲞⲨⲢⲰⲘⲒ ⲈⲢⲈ ⲞⲨⲞⲚ ⲞⲨϢϬ ⲞⲨⲢ ⲚⲚⲞⲨⲂ ⲦⲞⲒ ⲈⲠⲈϤⲦⲎⲂ ϦⲈⲚⲞⲨϨⲈⲂⲤⲰ ⲈⲤⲪⲞⲢⲒ ⲚⲦⲈϤⲒ ⲆⲈ ⲈϦⲞⲨⲚ ϨⲰϤ ⲚϪⲈⲞⲨϨⲎⲔⲒ ϦⲈⲚⲞⲨϨⲈⲂⲤⲰ ⲈⲤⲀⲐⲒⲰⲞⲨ
3 and you pay court to the one who wears the fine clothes, and say, "Sit here; this is a good place;" while to the poor man you say, "Stand there, or sit on the floor at my feet;"
ⲅ̅ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲚⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚϪⲞⲨϢⲦ ⲈⲪⲎ ⲈⲦⲈ ϮϨⲈⲂⲤⲰ 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 is it not plain that in your hearts you have little faith, seeing that you have become judges full of wrong thoughts?
ⲇ̅ⲘⲎ ⲘⲠⲈⲦⲈⲚⲬⲀ ⲞⲨϢⲒⲂϮ ⲚϨⲢⲎⲒ ϦⲈⲚⲐⲎⲚⲞⲨ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲀⲢⲈⲦⲈⲚⲈⲢⲢⲈϤϮϨⲀⲠ ⲚϦⲢⲎⲒ ϦⲈⲚϨⲀⲚⲘⲈⲨⲒ ⲈⲨϨⲰⲞⲨ
5 Listen, my dearly-loved brethren. Has not God chosen those whom the world regards as poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He has promised to those that love Him?
ⲉ̅ⲤⲰⲦⲈⲘ ⲚⲀⲤⲚⲎⲞⲨ ⲚⲀⲘⲈⲚⲢⲀϮ ⲘⲎ ⲪⲚⲞⲨϮ ⲚⲀϤⲤⲰⲦⲠ ⲚⲚⲒϨⲎⲔⲒ ⲚⲦⲈⲠⲒⲔⲞⲤⲘⲞⲤ ⲚⲢⲀⲘⲀⲞ ϦⲈⲚⲠⲒⲚⲀϨϮ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲚⲔⲖⲎⲢⲞⲚⲞⲘⲞⲤ ⲚⲦⲈϮⲘⲈⲦⲞⲨⲢⲞ ⲐⲎ ⲈⲦⲀϤⲰϢ ⲘⲘⲞⲤ ⲚⲚⲎ ⲈⲐⲚⲀⲘⲈⲚⲢⲒⲦϤ
6 But you have put dishonour upon the poor man. Yet is it not the rich who grind you down? Are not they the very people who drag you into the Law courts? --
ⲋ̅ⲚⲐⲰⲦⲈⲚ ⲆⲈ ⲀⲢⲈⲦⲈⲚϢⲈϢ ⲠⲒϨⲎⲔⲒ ⲘⲎ ⲚⲒⲢⲀⲘⲀⲰⲞⲨ ⲀⲚ ⲈⲦⲞⲒ ⲚϪⲰⲢⲒ ⲈⲢⲰⲦⲈⲚ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲚⲐⲰⲞⲨ ⲈⲦⲤⲰⲔ ⲘⲘⲰⲦⲈⲚ ⲈϨⲀⲚⲘⲀⲚϮϨⲀⲠ
7 and the very people who speak evil of the noble Name by which you are called?
ⲍ̅ⲘⲎ ⲚⲐⲰⲞⲨ ⲀⲚ ⲈⲦϪⲈⲞⲨⲀ ⲈⲠⲒⲢⲀⲚ ⲈⲐⲚⲀⲚⲈϤ ⲈⲦⲀⲨⲘⲞⲨϮ ⲘⲘⲞϤ ⲈϪⲈⲚ ⲐⲎⲚⲞⲨ
8 If, however, you are keeping the Law as supreme, in obedience to the Commandment which says "You are to love your fellow man just as you love yourself," you are acting rightly.
ⲏ̅ⲒⲤϪⲈ ⲘⲈⲚ ⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚϪⲰⲔ ⲘⲠⲒⲚⲞⲘⲞⲤ ⲚⲞⲨⲢⲞ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ⲔⲀⲦⲀ ⲚⲒⲄⲢⲀⲪⲎ ϪⲈ ⲈⲔⲈⲘⲈⲚⲢⲈ ⲠⲈⲔϢⲪⲎⲢ ⲘⲠⲈⲔⲢⲎϮ ⲔⲀⲖⲰⲤ ⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚⲢⲀ ⲘⲘⲞⲤ.
9 But if you are making distinctions between one man and another, you are guilty of sin, and are convicted by the Law as offenders.
ⲑ̅ⲒⲤϪⲈ ⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚϪⲞⲨϢⲦ ⲈϨⲞ ⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚⲈⲢϨⲰⲂ ⲈⲪⲚⲞⲂⲒ ⲈⲢⲈ ⲪⲚⲞⲘⲞⲤ ⲤⲞϨⲒ ⲘⲘⲰⲦⲈⲚ ϨⲰⲤ ⲠⲀⲢⲀⲂⲀⲦⲎⲤ ⲚⲦⲈⲠⲒⲚⲞⲘⲞⲤ.
10 A man who has kept the Law as a whole, but has failed to keep some one command, has become guilty of violating all.
ⲓ̅ⲪⲎ ⲄⲀⲢ ⲈⲐⲚⲀⲀⲢⲈϨ ⲈⲪⲚⲞⲘⲞⲤ ⲚⲦⲈϤϨⲈⲒ ϦⲈⲚⲞⲨⲀⲒ ⲀϤϢⲰⲠⲒ ⲈϤⲞⲒ ⲚⲈⲚⲞⲬⲞⲤ ⲘⲘⲰⲞⲨ ⲦⲎⲢⲞⲨ
11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder," and if you are a murderer, although not an adulterer, you have become an offender against the Law.
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲪⲎ ⲄⲀⲢ ⲈⲦⲀϤϪⲞⲤ ϪⲈ ⲚⲚⲈⲔⲈⲢⲚⲰⲒⲔ ⲚⲐⲞϤ ⲞⲚ ⲀϤϪⲞⲤ ϪⲈ ⲚⲚⲈⲔϦⲰⲦⲈⲂ ⲒⲤϪⲈ ⲔⲞⲒ ⲚⲚⲰⲒⲔ ⲀⲚ ⲔϦⲰⲦⲈⲂ ⲆⲈ ⲀⲔϢⲰⲠⲒ ⲈⲔⲞⲒ ⲘⲠⲀⲢⲀⲂⲀⲦⲎⲤ ⲚⲦⲈⲠⲒⲚⲞⲘⲞⲤ
12 Speak and act as those should who are expecting to be judged by the Law of freedom.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ⲤⲀϪⲒ ⲘⲠⲀⲒⲢⲎϮ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲀⲢⲒⲞⲨⲒ ⲘⲠⲀⲒⲢⲎϮ ϨⲰⲤ ⲈⲨⲚⲀϮϨⲀⲠ ⲈⲢⲰⲦⲈⲚ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ϨⲒⲦⲈⲚ ⲪⲚⲞⲘⲞⲤ ⲚⲦⲈϮⲘⲈⲦⲢⲈⲘϨⲈ
13 For he who shows no mercy will have judgement given against him without mercy; but mercy triumphs over judgement.
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ⲠⲒϨⲀⲠ ⲄⲀⲢ ⲞⲨⲀⲐⲚⲀⲒ ⲠⲈ ⲘⲪⲎ ⲈⲦⲈ ⲘⲠⲈϤⲒⲢⲒ ⲘⲠⲒⲚⲀⲒ ϢⲀⲢⲈ ⲪⲚⲀⲒ ⲄⲀⲢ ϢⲞⲨϢⲞⲨ ⲘⲘⲞϤ ⲈϪⲈⲚ ⲠⲒϨⲀⲠ.
14 What good is it, my brethren, if a man professes to have faith, and yet his actions do not correspond? Can such faith save him?
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲞⲨ ⲠⲈ ⲠϨⲎⲞⲨ ⲚⲀⲤⲚⲎⲞⲨ ⲈϢⲰⲠ ⲚⲦⲈⲞⲨⲀⲒ ϪⲞⲤ ϪⲈ ⲞⲨⲞⲚϮ ⲚⲀϨϮ ⲘⲘⲀⲨ ⲘⲘⲞⲚ ⲚⲦⲀϤ ⲆⲈ ⲚϨⲀⲚϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ ⲘⲎ ⲞⲨⲞⲚ ϢϪⲞⲘ ⲚⲦⲈⲠⲒⲚⲀϨϮ ⲚⲀϨⲘⲈϤ ⲀϬⲚⲈ ⲚⲒϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ
15 Suppose a Christian brother or sister is poorly clad or lacks daily food,
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲈϢⲰⲠ ⲆⲈ ⲞⲨⲞⲚ ⲞⲨⲤⲞⲚ ⲒⲈ ⲞⲨⲤⲰⲚⲒ ⲈⲨⲂⲎϢ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲈⲨϢⲀⲦ ⲚⲦϦⲢⲈ ⲚⲦⲈⲠⲒⲈϨⲞⲞⲨ
16 and one of you says to them, "I wish you well; keep yourselves warm and well fed," and yet you do not give them what they need; what is the use of that?
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ⲚⲦⲈ ⲞⲨⲀⲒ ⲆⲈ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ϦⲈⲚⲐⲎⲚⲞⲨ ϪⲞⲤ ⲚⲰⲞⲨ ϪⲈ ⲘⲀϢⲈ ⲚⲰⲦⲈⲚ ϦⲈⲚⲞⲨϨⲒⲢⲎ ⲚⲎ ϦⲘⲞⲘ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲤⲒ ⲚⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚϢⲦⲈⲘϮ ⲆⲈ ⲚⲰⲞⲨ ⲚⲦⲬⲢⲒⲀ ⲚⲦⲈⲠⲒⲤⲰⲘⲀ ⲞⲨ ⲠⲈ ⲠⲒϨⲎⲞⲨ
17 So also faith, if it is unaccompanied by obedience, has no life in it--so long as it stands alone.
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲠⲀⲒⲢⲎϮ ϨⲰϤ ⲠⲒⲚⲀϨϮ ⲈϢⲰⲠ ⲘⲘⲞⲚ ϨⲰⲂ ⲚϦⲎⲦϤ ϤⲘⲰⲞⲨⲦ ϦⲀⲢⲒ ϦⲀⲢⲞϤ
18 Nay, some one will say, "You have faith, I have actions: prove to me your faith apart from corresponding actions and I will prove mine to you by my actions.
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲀⲖⲖⲀ ϤⲚⲀϪⲞⲤ ⲚϪⲈⲞⲨⲀⲒ ϪⲈ ⲚⲐⲞⲔ ⲞⲨⲞⲚⲦⲀⲔ ⲚⲞⲨⲚⲀϨϮ ⲘⲘⲀⲨ ⲀⲚⲞⲔ ⲆⲈ ⲞⲨⲞⲚⲦⲎⲒ ⲚϨⲀⲚϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ ⲘⲀⲦⲀⲘⲞⲒ ⲈⲠⲈⲔⲚⲀϨϮ ⲬⲰⲢⲒⲤ ⲚⲒϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ ⲀⲚⲞⲔ ⲆⲈ ⲚⲦⲀⲦⲀⲘⲞⲔ ⲈⲠⲀⲚⲀϨϮ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ϦⲈⲚⲚⲀϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ
19 You believe that God is one, and you are quite right: evil spirits also believe this, and shudder."
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲚⲐⲞⲔ ⲬⲚⲀϨϮ ϪⲈ ⲞⲨⲀⲒ ⲠⲈ ⲪⲚⲞⲨϮ ⲔⲀⲖⲰⲤ ⲔⲢⲀ ⲘⲘⲞⲤ ⲚⲒⲔⲈⲆⲈⲘⲰⲚ ϨⲰⲞⲨ ⲤⲈⲚⲀϨϮ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲤⲈⲤⲐⲈⲢⲦⲈⲢ
20 But, idle boaster, are you willing to be taught how it is that faith apart from obedience is worthless? Take the case of Abraham our forefather.
ⲕ̅ⲬⲞⲨⲰϢ ⲆⲈ ⲈⲈⲘⲒ ⲰⲪⲢⲰⲘⲒ ⲈⲦϢⲞⲨⲒⲦ ϪⲈ ⲠⲒⲚⲀϨϮ ⲬⲰⲢⲒⲤ ⲚⲒϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ ϤⲘⲰⲞⲨⲦ
21 Was it, or was it not, because of his actions that he was declared to be righteous as the result of his having offered up his son Isaac upon the altar?
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲀⲂⲢⲀⲀⲘ ⲠⲈⲚⲒⲰⲦ ⲘⲎ ⲚⲈⲦⲀⲨⲐⲘⲀⲒⲞϤ ⲀⲚ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ϦⲈⲚⲚⲒϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ ⲈⲦⲀϤⲈⲚ ⲒⲤⲀⲀⲔ ⲠⲈϤϢⲎⲢⲒ ϨⲒϪⲈⲚ ⲠⲒⲘⲀⲚⲈⲢϢⲰⲞⲨϢⲒ
22 You notice that his faith was co-operating with his actions, and that by his actions his faith was perfected;
ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ⲬⲚⲀⲨ ϪⲈ ⲚⲀⲢⲈ ⲠⲒⲚⲀϨϮ ⲈⲢϨⲰⲂ ⲚⲈⲘ ⲚⲒϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ϦⲈⲚⲚⲒϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ Ⲁ- ⲠⲒⲚⲀϨϮ ϪⲰⲔ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and his faith was placed to his credit as righteousness," and he received the name of 'God's friend.'
ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲀⲤϪⲰⲔ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ⲚϪⲈϮⲄⲢⲀⲪⲎ ϪⲈ ⲀϤⲚⲀϨϮ ⲚϪⲈⲀⲂⲢⲀⲀⲘ ⲈⲪⲚⲞⲨϮ ⲀⲨⲞⲠⲤ ⲚⲀϤ ⲈⲞⲨⲘⲈⲐⲘⲎⲒ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲀⲨⲘⲞⲨϮ ⲈⲢⲞϤ ϪⲈ ⲠϢⲪⲎⲢ ⲘⲪϮ
24 You all see that it is because of actions that a man is pronounced righteous, and not simply because of faith.
ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚⲚⲀⲨ ϪⲈ ⲀⲨⲚⲀⲐⲘⲀⲒⲈ ⲠⲒⲢⲰⲘⲒ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ϦⲈⲚⲚⲒϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲚⲈⲈⲂⲞⲖ ϦⲈⲚⲠⲒⲚⲀϨϮ ⲘⲘⲀⲨⲀⲦϤ ⲀⲚ
25 In the same way also was not the notorious sinner Rahab declared to be righteous because of her actions when she welcomed the spies and hurriedly helped them to escape another way?
ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ⲠⲀⲒⲢⲎϮ ⲞⲚ ⲢⲀⲀⲂ ϮⲠⲞⲢⲚⲎ ⲘⲎ ⲚⲈⲦⲀⲨⲐⲘⲀⲒⲞⲤ ⲀⲚ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ϦⲈⲚⲚⲒϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ ⲈⲦⲀⲤϢⲈⲠ ⲚⲒϪⲎⲢ ⲈⲢⲞⲤ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲀⲤϮⲦⲞⲦⲞⲨ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ϨⲒⲦⲈⲚ ⲔⲈⲘⲰⲒⲦ
26 For just as a human body without a spirit is lifeless, so also faith is lifeless if it is unaccompanied by obedience.
ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ⲘⲪⲢⲎϮ ⲄⲀⲢ ⲘⲠⲒⲤⲰⲘⲀ ⲬⲰⲢⲒⲤ ⲠⲒⲠⲚⲈⲨⲘⲀϤⲘⲰⲞⲨⲦ ⲠⲀⲒⲢⲎϮ ϨⲰϤ ⲠⲒⲚⲀϨϮ ⲬⲰⲢⲒⲤ ⲚⲒϨⲂⲎⲞⲨⲒ ϤⲘⲰⲞⲨⲦ.

< James 2 >