OET interlinear YAC (JAM) 2:18

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

ἀλλ’ ἐρεῖ τις, σὺ πίστιν ἔχεις, κἀγὼ ἔργα ἔχω

but /will_be/_saying someone you faith /are/_having and_I works /am/_having

See the discussion of this sentence in the General Notes to this chapter. You may want to turn the direct quotation into an indirect quotation to help your readers understand that the You who is being addressed is the same “one of you” as in 2:16 and that when James says I, he is referring to himself. Alternate translation: “But someone may tell you that you have faith and I have works”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀλλ’ ἐρεῖ τις, σὺ πίστιν ἔχεις, κἀγὼ ἔργα ἔχω

but /will_be/_saying someone you faith /are/_having and_I works /am/_having

See the discussion of this sentence in the General Notes to this chapter. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate more explicitly what this statement means. (UST explains the implications even further than is suggested here.) Alternate translation: “But someone may try to reassure you that you nevertheless have faith, while I, James, have works”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo

ἀλλ’ ἐρεῖ τις

but /will_be/_saying someone

James is using a hypothetical situation to teach. This expression introduces the condition of the hypothetical situation. (As Part 1 of the General Introduction to James explains, in the style of speakers of this time, James is anticipating an objection that someone might make and saying how he would respond to it.) Alternate translation: “But suppose someone said to you”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

σὺ πίστιν ἔχεις

you faith /are/_having

Here, You is singular because James is illustrating how someone might address one individual. James himself then addresses that same individual in the rest of this verse and in verses 19–22. So if your language marks the distinction, use the singular form of “you” in your translation from here through verse 22.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / quotations

δεῖξόν μοι τὴν πίστιν σου χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων, κἀγώ σοι δείξω ἐκ τῶν ἔργων μου τὴν πίστιν

show ˱to˲_me the faith ˱of˲_you without the works and_I ˱to˲_you /will_be/_showing by the works ˱of˲_me ¬the faith

It may be helpful to make this sentence a direct quotation after an introduction to show that it is what James would say in response to the hypothetical objection. Alternate translation: “Then I would say to you, ‘Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith from works’”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo

δεῖξόν μοι τὴν πίστιν σου χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων, κἀγώ σοι δείξω ἐκ τῶν ἔργων μου τὴν πίστιν

show ˱to˲_me the faith ˱of˲_you without the works and_I ˱to˲_you /will_be/_showing by the works ˱of˲_me ¬the faith

This is the result of the hypothetical situation that James has been describing. Alternate translation: “Then I would say to you, ‘Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith from works’”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

δεῖξόν μοι τὴν πίστιν σου χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων

show ˱to˲_me the faith ˱of˲_you without the works

James is using the imperative Show me to challenge the hypothetical “You” and make him realize that he really cannot do what James is telling him to do. Alternate translation: “You cannot show me your faith without works”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δεῖξόν μοι τὴν πίστιν σου χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων

show ˱to˲_me the faith ˱of˲_you without the works

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the abstract nouns faith and works by stating the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “you could not show me that you truly believe in God if you are not doing what God wants you to do”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / declarative

κἀγώ σοι δείξω ἐκ τῶν ἔργων μου τὴν πίστιν

and_I ˱to˲_you /will_be/_showing by the works ˱of˲_me ¬the faith

James is using a future statement to indicate something he is capable of doing. Alternate translation: “but I can show you my faith from works”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

κἀγώ σοι δείξω ἐκ τῶν ἔργων μου τὴν πίστιν

and_I ˱to˲_you /will_be/_showing by the works ˱of˲_me ¬the faith

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the abstract nouns faith and works by stating the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “but by doing what God wants me to do, I can show you that I truly believe in God”