into the
perfect law, the law of liberty, and remained thereby, being not a
forgetful hearer, but a doer of work, this man shall be happy in his
doing.

(26)If any one thinks that he is religious, and bridles not his
tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

(27)Religion, pure and undefiled before God and the Father, is this:
To visit the orphans and widows in their affliction; to keep himself
unspotted from the world.

II.

MY brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord]
of glory, with respect of persons. (2)For if there have come into your
assembly a man with a gold ring, in gay clothing, and there have come
in also a poor man in mean clothing; (3)and ye have respect to him
that wears the gay clothing, and say: Sit thou here in a good place,
and say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or, Sit under my footstool;
(4)were ye not partial in yourselves, and become judges with evil
thoughts?

(5)Hearken, my beloved brethren. Did not God choose the poor as to
this world[2:5] to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he
promised to those who love him? (6)But ye dishonored the poor man. Do
not the rich oppress you, and do not they drag you before the
judgment-seats? (7)Do not they blaspheme the worthy name by which ye
are called?

(8)If indeed ye fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well. (9)But if ye have
respect to persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as
transgressors. (10)For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet
offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (11)For he who said: Do not
commit adultery, said also: Do not kill. Now if thou commit not
adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
(12)So speak, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of
liberty. (13)For the judgment shall be without mercy, to him that
showed no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

(14)What does it profit, my brethren, if any one say that he has
faith, and have not works? Can the faith save him? (15)But if a
brother or a sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (16)and one
of you say to them: Depart in peace, be warmed, and be filled, but ye
give them not the things needful for the body, what does it profit?
(17)So also faith, if it has not works, is dead in itself. (18)But
some will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works; show me thy faith
without the works, and