Things to Avoid

4 ^[a]What is the source of quarrels and ^(A)conflicts among you? ^[b]Is the source not your pleasures that wage ^(B)war in ^[c]your body’s parts? ² You lust and do not have, so you ^(C)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 ^(D)do not receive, because you ask ^[d]with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request ^[e]on your pleasures. ⁴ You ^(E)adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with ^(F)the world is ^(G)hostility toward God? ^(H)Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture ^(I)says to no purpose, “^[f]He ^[g]jealously desires ^(J)the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us”? ⁶ But ^(K)He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “^(L)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” ^7 (M)Submit therefore to God. But ^[h](N)resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ^8 (O)Come close to God and He will come close to you. ^(P)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and ^(Q)purify your hearts, you ^(R)[i]double-minded. ^9 (S)Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. ^10 (T)Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

²⁵ For they exchanged the truth of God for ^[a](A)falsehood, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, ^(B)who is blessed ^[b]forever. Amen.