YAC 2:12 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, pink:genitive/possessor.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Thus speak and thus act, as ones who are going to be judged by means of the law of freedom.

UST Always speak and act towards others knowing that God will judge you based on the commandment he gave us to love others. When we follow that commandment, we obey God freely.

AICNT So speak and so act as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

OEB Therefore, speak and act as people who are to be judged by the “Law of freedom.”

WEBBE So speak and so do as men who are to be judged by the law of freedom.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.

LSV thus, speak and so act as [one] about to be judged by a law of liberty,

FBV You should speak and act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom.

TCNT Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

T4T Continually speak and act toward others as people should who will be judged {whom God will judge} by the law that frees us from being punished {God punishing us} for our sins.

LEB Thus speak and thus act as those who are going to be judged by the law of liberty.

BBE Let your words and your acts be those of men who are to be judged by the law which makes free.

Moff Speak, act, as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom;

Wymth Speak and act as those should who are expecting to be judged by the Law of freedom.

ASV So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.

DRA So speak ye, and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.

YLT so speak ye and so do, as about by a law of liberty to be judged,

Drby So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty;

RV So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.
(So speak ye/you_all, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty. )

SLT So speak ye, and so do, as about to be judged by the law of liberty.

Wbstr So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

KJB-1769 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
(So speak ye/you_all, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. )

KJB-1611 So speake ye, and so doe, as they that shall bee iudged by the Law of libertie.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps So speake ye, and so do, as they that shalbe iudged by the lawe of libertie.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Gnva So speake ye, and so doe, as they that shall be iudged by the Lawe of libertie.
(So speak ye/you_all, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the Law of liberty. )

Cvdl So speake ye, and so do as they that shalbe iudged by the lawe of libertie.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

TNT So speake ye and so do as they that shalbe iudged by the lawe of libertie.
(So speak ye/you_all and so do as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. )

Wycl Thus speke ye, and thus do ye, as bigynnynge to be demyd bi the lawe of fredom.
(Thus speak ye/you_all, and thus do ye/you_all, as beginninge to be demyd by the law of freedom.)

Luth Also redet und also tut, als die da sollen durchs Gesetz der Freiheit gerichtet werden.
(So talks and also does, as the there should through law the/of_the Freiheit directed become.)

ClVg Sic loquimini, et sic facite sicut per legem libertatis incipientes judicari.[fn]
(So speak, and so do_it like through the_law libertatis incipientes judgeri. )

2.12 Sic loquimini. BED. Quandoquidem malum est divitem propter divitias eligi, etc., usque ad quæ spontaneos vocat ad pœnitentiam et peccata dimittit. Quasi diceret: Bene loquimini, et bene facite: quia si negligitis, gravius damnabimini quam qui fuerunt in tempore Moysi, quia cui plus committitur, plus ab eo exigitur. Quo plus majorem quis misericordiam a Domino consequitur, eo injustius indigenti proximo misericordiam negat, et justius luit pœnas impietatis.

2.12 So speak. BED. Quandoquidem evil it_is divitem because riches eligi, etc., until to which spontaneos he_calls to repentance and sins dismisses. As_if would_say: Well speak, and well do_it: because when/but_if neglectsis, heavier damnabimini how who/which they_were in/into/on at_the_time of_Moses, because to_whom plus commitsur, plus away by_him demandsur. Where plus greater who/any mercy from Master consequitur, by_him injustius they_needi the_next mercy denies, and justius luit punishments impiety/irreverence.

UGNT οὕτως λαλεῖτε, καὶ οὕτως ποιεῖτε, ὡς διὰ νόμου ἐλευθερίας μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι.
(houtōs laleite, kai houtōs poieite, hōs dia nomou eleutherias mellontes krinesthai.)

SBL-GNT οὕτως λαλεῖτε καὶ οὕτως ποιεῖτε ὡς διὰ νόμου ἐλευθερίας μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι.
(houtōs laleite kai houtōs poieite hōs dia nomou eleutherias mellontes krinesthai.)

RP-GNT Οὕτως λαλεῖτε καὶ οὕτως ποιεῖτε, ὡς διὰ νόμου ἐλευθερίας μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι.
(Houtōs laleite kai houtōs poieite, hōs dia nomou eleutherias mellontes krinesthai.)

TC-GNT Οὕτω λαλεῖτε καὶ οὕτω ποιεῖτε, ὡς διὰ νόμου ἐλευθερίας μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι.
(Houtō laleite kai houtō poieite, hōs dia nomou eleutherias mellontes krinesthai. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–13: Believers must avoid favoritism

The theme of this section is that Christians should not treat rich people better than poor people. They should treat everyone with kindness. This is one of the marks of a truly godly person.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Show mercy and honor to poor people and thereby fulfill the royal law of love

Obey the law of love by treating poor people with mercy and honor

Do not discriminate against poor people

Paragraph 2:12–13

In this paragraph, James warned his readers that God will judge all people based on how they act toward others. He requires his people to be merciful to others. This is a conclusion to 2:1–11.

In some languages, it will be natural to begin this paragraph with a conjunction indicating that it is a conclusion. For example:

So (NLT)

Therefore

2:12a

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged

¶ Speak and act like people who will be judged (CEV)
¶ So, whatever you^(plur) say or whatever you do, remember that one day God will decide if you are innocent/righteous or guilty.
¶ Therefore, speak^(plur) and behave carefully/mercifully, because God will examine people’s lives

Speak and act: The verbs Speak and act refer to normal, everyday conversation and behavior. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Talk and behave

So whatever you say or whatever you do (NLT)

In everything you say and do (NCV)

as those who are going to be judged: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as as those who are going to be judged indicates that people will be judged. A future judgment is certain to happen. The word as does not mean that people should just behave “as if” judgment were going to happen.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

like people who will be judged (CEV)

remember that you will be judged (NCV)

because you are going to be judged

those who are going to be judged: This is a passive verb phrase. There are at least two ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
people who will be judged (CEV)
Use an active verb. For example:
people whom God will judge

be judged: The Greek word that the BSB translates as be judged is a legal word. It describes the work of a judge in court. A judge:

examines and considers the evidence
pronounces the person innocent or guilty
decides the punishment (if the person is guilty)

In this verse, God is the judge, and the focus is probably on (a) and (b) above. God will evaluate whether each person has kept his law. On that basis, he will decide whether the person is innocent or guilty.Many commentators (see, for example, Lenski, pages 574–575; McCartney, page 150; Mitton, pages 95–96; Moo (2000), pages 116 and 118) in looking at the wider context of Scripture take the position that this judgment does not lead directly to a verdict of guilt or innocence before God based on the law. Rather obedience to the law is evidence that someone has been shown grace. Their actions and particularly their actions of grace and mercy to all people demonstrate that they are truly saved. Those who have obeyed his law, in particular the law which says to love your neighbor (2:8), will be judged to be righteous. Those who have not obeyed his law will be judged to be guilty.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

be examined/evaluated

God will consider the evidence and decide whether they are innocent or guilty

See judge, meaning 1, in the Glossary.

2:12b

by the law that gives freedom.

according to the law that frees us^(incl),
He will decide using the commands that free us^(incl) from our sins.
to see if they have obeyed his commands/rules. These commands/rules free us^(incl) from our sins.

by the law: The phrase by the law indicates that the law is the standard by which, or according to which, God will judge us.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

according to the law

using the law

As in 1:25, the word law refers to the complete set of instructions and commands from God. It does not refer to just one law. So in some languages, it is more natural to use the plural “laws” here. For example:

by laws (GW)

that gives freedom: The Greek word that the BSB translates as that gives freedom describes what the law does for people who obey it. It sets them free from sin.

Some other ways to translate the expression the law that gives freedom are:

the law that sets us/you free

the law that makes people free (NCV)

the law that frees people from sin

In some languages, it may be natural to translate this phrase as a separate sentence. For example:

^12aSpeak and act as those who are going to be judged ^12bby the law. This law gives freedom to do what God wants us to do.

See the note “of freedom” in 1:25a, where the same Greek expression occurs.

General Comment on 2:12a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in this verse. For example:

^12aYou are going to be judged ^12baccording to the law that gives freedom. ^12aSo be careful to speak and act appropriately.

^12bGod will use the law that gives freedom ^12ato decide whether we are innocent or guilty. Therefore, speak and act well.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / you

οὕτως λαλεῖτε, καὶ οὕτως ποιεῖτε

thus (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως λαλεῖτε καί οὕτως ποιεῖτε ὡς διά νόμου ἐλευθερίας μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι)

The implied “you” in these imperatives is plural. James returns here to the plural usage that he follows in most of his letter. So in your translation, use the plural form of “you” if your language marks that distinction and if it reflects it in imperatives. Alternate translation: [Speak and act in this way]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι

going ˓to_be_being˒_judged

If your language does not use this passive form, you can express this with an active form, and you can state who will do the action. Alternate translation: [people whom God is going to judge]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

νόμου ἐλευθερίας

˓the˒_law ˱of˲_freedom

As in [1:25](../01/25.md), James is using the possessive form to describe a law that brings freedom. Alternate translation: [the law that brings freedom]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

νόμου ἐλευθερίας

˓the˒_law ˱of˲_freedom

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the abstract noun freedom by translating the idea behind it with an adjective such as “free.” Alternate translation: [the law that sets people free]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

νόμου ἐλευθερίας

˓the˒_law ˱of˲_freedom

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly what the law gives people the freedom to do. Alternate translation: [the law that sets people free to obey God]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

νόμου ἐλευθερίας

˓the˒_law ˱of˲_freedom

In this context, it appears that when James speaks of the law of freedom, he is referring to the commandment that he quoted in [2:8](../02/08.md), “You will love your neighbor as yourself.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express this explicitly and explain how this law sets people free. Alternate translation: [the law to love one’s neighbor, which sets people free to obey God by giving them a principle to follow in all of their actions]

Parallel YAC 2:12

Section 2:1–13: Believers must avoid favoritism

Paragraph 2:12–13

2:12a

2:12b

General Comment on 2:12a–b