<p>2:13<i> For judgment is without mercy to whomsoever has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment</i>-This appears to be alluding to Job 22:6-11, where Eliphaz says just the same about Job, saying that the harsh judgements coming upon Job were a result of him being harsh in his dealings with his fellow men previously- e.g. &quot;Thou hast sent widows away empty...therefore snares are round about thee&quot; (AV), as they were around a widow. Several of the things Eliphaz mentions in his accusations of Job are also themes in James:</p><div align=center><table border=1 cellspacing=4 cellpadding=0 width=80%>    <tbody>        <tr>            <td width=50% valign=top>            <p>            Job 22:6-11</p>            </td>            <td width=50% valign=top>            <p>James</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td width=50% valign=top>            <p>&quot;Thou   hast...stripped the naked of their clothing</p>            </td>            <td width=50% valign=top>            <p>&quot;If   a brother or sister be naked&quot; (and you don't clothe them), (2:15)</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td width=50% valign=top>            <p>Thou   hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread   from the hungry...</p>            </td>            <td width=50% valign=top>            <p>&quot;Destitute   of daily food&quot;</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td width=50% valign=top>            <p>But as   for the mighty man, he had the earth (i.e. you gave much to <i>him</i>)</p>            </td>            <td width=50% valign=top>            <p>&quot;You   have respect to him that wears the gay clothing&quot; and neglect the poor   (2:3)</p>            </td>        </tr>        <tr>            <td width=50% valign=top>            <p>...thou   hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the (1:27) fatherless have been   broken&quot;.</p>            </td>            <td width=50% valign=top>            <p>&quot;Visit   the fatherless and the widow in their affliction&quot;</p>            </td>        </tr>    </tbody></table></div><p>If these connections are valid- and there are several other places where James is writing with Job in mind- then it appears that James did not see Job as beyond reproof; but that like those to whom James wrote he was a rich businessman, trusting in his own strength. This fits in to the many other indications that Job represented those Jews who trusted in the Law. If the allegations of Eliphaz in Job 22 are therefore partly true, Job's clearing of himself from these things in Job 31 is to be read as sophistry- and therefore this clearing of himself is vigorously rebuked by Elihu, speaking on God's behalf, in Job 32. It is not unreasonable to think that it is not just the recording of the friends' words that was inspired but that to some degree their rebuke of Job was also directly inspired by God, although not all they said can be treated like this. We are quick enough to accept their reasoning regarding the mortality of man as inspired statements of Divine truth- why not some of their other statements about Job?</p><p>&quot;<i>He</i> shall have judgment without mercy&quot; suggests the picture of two people at the judgment seat being judged for the same sin; one is forgiven because he had showed mercy, while the other is rejected for not doing so. The rejoicing of the merciful brother is then set against the misery of the unmerciful brother. Mercy will then rejoice <i>against</i> judgment in the same way as the men of Nineveh will rise up <i>against</i> the unworthy at judgment day.</p><p>Note the implication that the believer should <i>shew </i>mercy. The Greek word translated &quot;shewed&quot; in v.13 is not the normal word translated thus. The word used here means literally 'to do a work', again continuing James' theme that spiritual actions are still 'works'. This lack of love and harsh judgement amongst James' audience was also connected with an academic emphasis on faith to the neglect of works- seeing that v.14 continues &quot;What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?&quot;. It seems true in practice that those who are busy actively expressing their faith in works tend to have less time for unnecessarily harsh judgement of others in the ecclesia. It did not &quot;profit&quot;- literally 'heap up'. Those to whom James wrote were hard working traders (4:13); thus such language was especially relevant to them. Again, James is working out a very telling play on words: 'Your heaping up of material profit while being academically familiar with your faith is not heaping up spiritual profit'. These brethren<i> said</i> they had faith. Later in chapter 3 James points out that because the word was not really controlling their thoughts, their words were uncontrolled. An example of this would be this public talking about their faith, heaping up a reward in the eyes of men.</p>