James 2:19-20,26 - Compare All Versions

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You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe — and they shudder.  Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?

The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn’t her action in hiding God’s spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless?

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

You believe that God is one; you do well [to believe that]. The demons also believe [that], and shudder and bristle [in awe-filled terror—they have seen His wrath]! [Deut 6:4; 11:13-21; Mark 12:29] But are you willing to recognize, you foolish [spiritually shallow] person, that faith without [good] works is useless?

For just as the [human] body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works [of obedience] is also dead.

You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear. But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.