No favoritism in the assembly

1My brothers, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with partiality.

2For if a man wearing gold rings and bright clothing enters into your assembly, and a poor man in filthy clothing also enters,

3and if you pay attention to the one wearing the bright clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there, or sit under my footstool,”

4have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5Listen, my beloved brothers: has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

6But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and themselves drag you into courts?

7Do not they themselves blaspheme the good name that was called upon you?

8If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

9But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10For whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles in one point has become guilty of all of it.

11For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12So speak and so act as those who are going to be judged through the law of freedom.

13For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.