James 3:9-5:12

New International Version

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.^{(A) 10} Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?^(B) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it^(C) by their good life, by deeds^(D) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition^(E) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.^{(F) 15} Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven^(G) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.^{(H) 16} For where you have envy and selfish ambition,^(I) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven^(J) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,^(K) considerate, submissive, full of mercy^(L) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.^{(M) 18} Peacemakers^(N) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.^(O)

Submit Yourselves to God

4 What causes fights and quarrels^(P) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle^(Q) within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill.^(R) You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive,^(S) because you ask with wrong motives,^(T) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴ You adulterous^(U) people,^[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world^(V) means enmity against God?^(W) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.^{(X) 5} Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us^[b]?^{(Y) 6} But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,^(AA) and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you.^(AB) Wash your hands,^(AC) you sinners, and purify your hearts,^(AD) you double-minded.^{(AE) 9} Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.^{(AF) 10} Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.^(AG)

¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.^(AH) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[d] or judges them^(AI) speaks against the law^(AJ) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,^(AK) but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,^(AL) the one who is able to save and destroy.^(AM) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?^(AN)

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen,^(AO) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^{(AP) 14} Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.^{(AQ) 15} Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,^(AR) we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.^{(AS) 17} If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.^(AT)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,^(AU) you rich people,^(AV) weep and wail^(AW) because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.^{(AX) 3} Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.^{(AY) 4} Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers^(AZ) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries^(BA) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.^{(BB) 5} You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves^(BC) in the day of slaughter.^{[e](BD) 6} You have condemned and murdered^(BE) the innocent one,^(BF) who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.^(BG) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting^(BH) for the autumn and spring rains.^{(BI) 8} You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming^(BJ) is near.^{(BK) 9} Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,^(BL) or you will be judged. The Judge^(BM) is standing at the door!^(BN)

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets^(BO) who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed^(BP) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance^(BQ) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.^(BR) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.^(BS)

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.^(BT)