James 2:12–13
Mercy triumphs over judgment
Study it word by word12So speak and so act as those who are about to be judged by the law of freedom.
13For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
In its context
10For whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles in one point has become guilty of all.
11For the one who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. And if you do not commit adultery but you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
…
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it?
15If a brother or a sister is naked and lacking daily food,
Its words in the original
- λαλεῖτεlaleite· speak
Speak, talk.
- ποιεῖτεpoieite· do, make
Do, make, produce.
- νόμουnomou· law
Law. In the Gospels, above all the law of Moses, the Torah.
- ἐλευθερίαςeleutherias· freedom
Freedom: not being subject as a slave.
- μέλλοντεςmellontes· be about to
Be about to, be going to do something.
- κρίνεσθαιkrinesthai· judge
Judge; in the passive, be judged, go to court.
- κρίσιςkrisis· judgment
Judgment; also the court that judges.
- ἀνέλεοςaneleos· merciless
Merciless, without mercy.
- ἔλεοςeleos· mercy
Mercy: compassion that acts.
- κατακαυχᾶταιkatakauchatai· boast over
Boast against, look down on another; also triumph over.