King James Bible
"For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment."
Those who refuse to show mercy to others will face God's judgment without receiving mercy themselves. This reflects the biblical principle of reciprocity, where our treatment of others directly impacts how God will treat us at the final judgment. This identifies the specific group facing harsh judgment: those who have been merciless in their dealings with others. James connects this to his earlier discussion about showing favoritism to the rich while dishonoring the poor. Mercy triumphs over or exults in victory against judgment, suggesting that showing mercy to others secures God's mercy for ourselves. The personification of mercy as rejoicing emphasizes that compassionate action is stronger than condemnation and aligns us with God's character.