14What does it profit, my brethren, if any one say that he has faith, and have not works? Can the faith save him? 15But if a brother or a sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16and 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? 17So also faith, if it has not works, is dead in itself. 18But some will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works; show me thy faith without the works, and I will show thee the faith by my works. 19Thou believest that God is one. Thou doest well; the demons 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 offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made complete. 23And the scripture was fulfilled which says: Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness; and he was called, Friend of God.
24Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25And in like manner, was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she received the messengers, and sent them out by another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
III. My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive greater condemnation. 2For in many things we all offend. If any one offends not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body.
3Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths[3], that they may obey us, we turn about also their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, though they are so great, and driven by fierce winds, are turned about by a very small helm, whithersoever the steersman may desire. 5So also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6And the tongue is a fire, that world of iniquity! The tongue among our members is that which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of life, and is set on fire by hell. 7For every nature of beasts and birds, of reptiles and things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed, by the nature of man. 8But the tongue no man can tame; a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9Therewith we bless the Lord and Father; and therewith we curse men, who have been made after the likeness of God. 10Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11Does the fountain, out of the same opening, send forth the sweet and the bitter? 12Can a fig-tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a vine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh.
13Who is wise and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show, out of his good deportment, his works in meekness of wisdom. 14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, do not glory, and lie against the truth. 15This wisdom is not one that comes down from above, but earthly, sensual[16], devilish. 16For where there is emulation and strife, there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, forbearing, easily persuaded, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, by those who work peace.
IV. From whence are wars, and from whence are fightings among you? Are they not from hence, from your lusts that war in your members? 2Ye desire, and have not; ye kill, and envy, and can not obtain; ye fight and war. Ye have not, because ye ask not; 3ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore desires to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5Do ye think that the Scripture says in vain, the spirit he made to dwell in us has jealous longings? 6But he gives the more grace. Wherefore he says:
God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.