James 3:13-4:12
New American Standard Bible
Wisdom from Above
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? (A)Let him show by his (B)good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter (C)jealousy and [a]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against (D)the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down (E)from above, but is (F)earthly, [b](G)natural, (H)demonic. 16 For where (I)jealousy and [c]selfish ambition exist, [d]there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom (J)from above is first (K)pure, then (L)peace-loving, (M)gentle, [e]reasonable, (N)full of mercy and good fruits, [f](O)impartial, free of (P)hypocrisy. 18 And the (Q)fruit of righteousness is sown in peace [g]by those who make peace.
Things to Avoid
4 [h]What is the source of quarrels and (R)conflicts among you? [i]Is the source not your pleasures that wage (S)war in [j]your body’s parts? 2 You lust and do not have, so you (T)commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and (U)do not receive, because you ask [k]with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request [l]on your pleasures. 4 You (V)adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with (W)the world is (X)hostility toward God? (Y)Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture (Z)says to no purpose, “[m]He [n]jealously desires (AA)the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But (AB)He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “(AC)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 (AD)Submit therefore to God. But [o](AE)resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 (AF)Come close to God and He will come close to you. (AG)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and (AH)purify your hearts, you (AI)[p]double-minded. 9 (AJ)Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. 10 (AK)Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
11 (AL)Do not speak against one another, (AM)brothers and sisters. The one who speaks against a brother or sister, or (AN)judges his brother or sister, speaks against (AO)the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not (AP)a doer of the law but a judge of it. 12 There is only one (AQ)Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is (AR)able to save and to destroy; but (AS)who are you, [q]judging your neighbor?
Footnotes
- James 3:14 Or strife
- James 3:15 Or unspiritual
- James 3:16 Or strife
- James 3:16 I.e., in that place
- James 3:17 Or willing to yield
- James 3:17 Or unwavering
- James 3:18 Or for
- James 4:1 Lit From where wars and from where fightings
- James 4:1 Lit Are they not from here, from your
- James 4:1 Lit your parts
- James 4:3 Lit wrongly
- James 4:3 Lit in
- James 4:5 Or The spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy
- James 4:5 Lit desires to jealousy
- James 4:7 Or oppose
- James 4:8 I.e., chronic doubters
- James 4:12 Lit the one judging
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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