16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But (A)the wisdom from above is first pure, then (B)peaceable, gentle, open to reason, (C)full of mercy and good fruits, (D)impartial and (E)sincere. 18 And (F)a harvest of righteousness (G)is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Warning Against Worldliness

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions[a] are (H)at war within you?[b] You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask (I)wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (J)You adulterous people![c] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? (K)Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Footnotes

  1. James 4:1 Greek pleasures; also verse 3
  2. James 4:1 Greek in your members
  3. James 4:4 Or You adulteresses!

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