James 2:6

Poverty and the vulnerable Justice Money and wealth

⁴ Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

⁵ Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

⁷ Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

⁸ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
KJV: But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
WEB: But you have dishonored the poor man. Don’t the rich oppress you and personally drag you before the courts?
ASV: But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?
DARBY: But *ye* have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] *they* drag you before [the] tribunals?
BLB: But you⁺ dishonored the poor one. Do not the rich oppress you⁺, and they drag you⁺ into court?

ÅB: Men dere har vanæret den fattige. Er det ikke de rike som underkuer dere, og som drar dere for domstolene?
OTB: Men dere har vanæret de fattige. Er det ikke de rike som undertrykker dere og drar dere for retten?
B1930: Men I har vanæret den fattige. Er det ikke de rike som underkuer eder, og som drar eder for domstolene?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Proverbs 17:5
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Read in context
Proverbs 14:31
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 11:22
What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
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Psalms 14:6
Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
Read in context
James 5:4
Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
Read in context
Isaiah 3:14–15
The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
Read in context
Amos 5:11
Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.
Read in context
Psalms 12:5
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
Read in context