James 2:18

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” ¹  Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by ²  my works.

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." I say, "I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds."

I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department." Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.

But a man may say, You have faith and I have works; let me see your faith without your works, and I will make my faith clear to you by my works.

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” ¹  Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by ²  my works.

¹ tn There is considerable doubt about where the words of the “someone” end and where James’ reply begins. Some see the quotation running to the end of v. 18; others to the end of v. 19. But most punctuate as shown above. The “someone” is then an objector, and the sense of his words is something like, “Some have faith; others have works; don’t expect everyone to have both.” James’ reply is that faith cannot exist or be seen without works.

² tn Or “from.”