James 2:12

Mace New Testament

speak and act as those, who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
You will be judged by the law that makes people free. You should remember this in everything you say and do.

Revised Standard Version
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
So speake ye and so do as they that shalbe iudged by the lawe of libertie.

Hebrew Names Version
So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

New American Standard Bible
So speak, and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.

New Century Version
In everything you say and do, remember that you will be judged by the law that makes people free.

Update Bible Version
So speak, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.

Webster's Bible Translation
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

English Standard Version
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

World English Bible
So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
So speak ye and so act, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Weymouth's New Testament
Speak and act as those should who are expecting to be judged by the Law of freedom.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thus speke ye, and thus do ye, as bigynnynge to be demyd bi the lawe of fredom.

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

Berean Standard Bible
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

Contemporary English Version
Speak and act like people who will be judged by the law that sets us free.

Amplified Bible
Speak and act [consistently] as people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty [that moral law that frees obedient Christians from the bondage of sin].

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

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

Complete Jewish Bible
Keep speaking and acting like people who will be judged by a Torah which gives freedom.

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

International Standard Version
You must make it your habit to speak and act like people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty.James 1:25;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
So speak and so act, as those who by the law of liberty are to be judged.

Murdock Translation
So speak ye, and so act, as persons that are to be judged by the law of liberty.

King James Version (1611)
So speake ye, and so doe, as they that shall bee iudged by the Law of libertie.

New Living Translation
So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.

New Life Bible
Keep on talking and acting as people who will be told they are guilty or not by the Law that makes men free.

New Revised Standard
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

Geneva Bible (1587)
So speake ye, and so doe, as they that shal be iudged by the Lawe of libertie.

George Lamsa Translation
So speak and so act, as men who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So, be speaking, and, so, doing, as they who, through means of a law of freedom, are about to be judged;

Douay-Rheims Bible
So speak ye and so do, as being to be judged by the law of liberty.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
So speake ye, and so do, as they that shalbe iudged by the lawe of libertie.

Good News Translation
Speak and act as people who will be judged by the law that sets us free.

Christian Standard Bible®
Speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.

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

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

Literal Translation
So speak and so do as being about to be judged through a Law of freedom.

Young's Literal Translation
so speak ye and so do, as about by a law of liberty to be judged,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
So speake ye, and so do as they that shalbe iudged by the lawe of libertie.

THE MESSAGE
Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.

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

New King James Version
So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Walk and talk like a cowboy who will be judged by the standard that sets men free.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

Contextual Overview

⁸ If, agreeably to the scriptures, you observe that royal law, "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self," you do well. ⁹ but partiality is iniquity; and the law will convict the offender of transgression. ¹⁰ for he that violates but one precept of the whole law, is as obnoxious to punishment, as if he had broke thro' all the rest. ¹¹ he that said, "do not commit adultery," said too, "do not kill." though you should not commit adultery, yet if you kill, you are a transgressor of the law. ¹² speak and act as those, who are to be judged by the law of liberty. ¹³ for he that has not shewed mercy, shall be condemn'd without mercy: while the merciful shall triumph at his trial.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

speak: Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:17, 2 Peter 1:4-8

the: James 2:8, James 1:25

Reciprocal: Psalms 119:45 - And I will John 8:32 - and the 1 Peter 2:16 - free

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So speak ye, and so do,.... Both words and actions should be taken care of; it becomes men to observe what they say, and what they do; for both sinful words and works are transgressions of the law, and will be brought to judgment; every idle word, as well as every evil work, both open and secret, men must give an account of in the day of judgment: wherefore it is incumbent on them so to behave,

as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty:

:- with which compare Romans 2:12. Heathens will be judged by the law of nature, Jews by the law of Moses, and those who live under the Gospel dispensation, according to the Gospel of Christ.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty - On the phrase, “the law of liberty,” see the notes at James 1:25. Compare the notes at James 4:11. The meaning is, that in all our conduct we are to act under the constant impression of the truth that we are soon to be brought into judgment, and that the law by which we are to be judged is that by which it is contemplated that we shall be set free from the dominion of sin. In the rule which God has laid down in his word, called “the law of liberty,” or the rule by which true freedom is to be secured, a system of religion is revealed by which it is designed that man shall be emancipated not only from one sin, but from all. Now, it is with reference to such a law that we are to be judged; that is, we shall not be able to plead on our trial that we were under a necessity of sinning, but we shall be judged under that law by which the arrangement was made that we might be free from sin. If we might be free from sin; if an arrangement was made by which we could have led holy lives, then it will be proper that we shall be judged and condemned if we are not righteous. The sense is, “In all your conduct, whatever you do or say, remember that you are to be judged, or that you are to give an impartial account; and remember also that the rule by which you are to be judged is that by which provision is made for being delivered from the dominion of sin, and brought into the freedom of the gospel.” The argument here seems to be, that he who habitually feels that he is soon to be judged by a law under which it was contemplated that he might be, and should be, free from the bondage of sin, has one of the strongest of all inducements to lead a holy life.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 12. So speak ye, and so do — Have respect to every commandment of God, for this the law of liberty - the Gospel of Jesus Christ, particularly requires; and this is the law by which all mankind, who have had the opportunity of knowing it, shall be judged. But all along St. James particularly refers to the precept, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.