James 2:13 (DBY)

Passage

for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

Nearby Context

James 2:11 For he who said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become transgressor of [the] law.

James 2:12 So speak ye, and so act, as those that are to be judged by [the] law of liberty;

James 2:13 for judgment [will be] without mercy to him that has shewn no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment.

James 2:14 What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?

James 2:15 Now if a brother or a sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "mercy", "judgment", "without", "shewn", "glories", and "over". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "mercy" and "judgment", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "So speak ye and so act as..." into verse 14's "What is the profit my brethren if...", so "mercy" and "judgment" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "mercy" and "judgment" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.