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Whether ye guess [Whether ween ye], that the scripture saith vainly, The spirit that dwelleth in you, coveteth to envy?

But he giveth the more grace [Forsooth he giveth more grace]; for which thing he saith, God withstandeth proud men, but to meek men he giveth grace.

Therefore be ye subject to God; but withstand ye the devil, and he shall flee from you.

Approach ye to God, and he shall approach to you. Ye sinners, cleanse ye the hands, and ye double in soul, purge ye the hearts.[a]

Be ye wretches, and wail ye [and weep ye]; your laughing be [it] turned into weeping, and [your] joy into sorrow of heart.

10 Be ye meeked in the sight of the Lord, and he shall enhance you.

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Footnotes

  1. James 4:8 Nigh ye to God, and he shall nigh to you. Ye sinners, cleanse the hands, and ye double of will, purge the hearts.

Or do you think that the scripture says in vain, the Spirit that dwells in you resists envy, but gives more grace?

Submit yourselves to God. And resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purge your hearts, ye wavering-minded. Suffer afflictions: sorrow ye, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Cast yourselves down before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

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[a]Do ye think that the Scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us, lusteth after envy?

But the Scripture offereth more grace, and therefore saith, (A)God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

(B)[b]Submit yourselves to God: resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purge your hearts, ye double minded.

[c]Suffer afflictions, and sorrow ye, and weep: let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into [d]heaviness.

10 (C)Cast down yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

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Footnotes

  1. James 4:5 The taking away of an objection: Indeed our minds run headlong into these vices, but we ought so much the more diligently take heed of them: which care and study shall not be in vain, seeing that God resists the stubborn, and giveth that grace to the modest and humble that surmounteth all those vices.
  2. James 4:7 The conclusion: We must set the contrary virtues against those vices, and therefore whereas we obeyed the suggestions of the devil, we must submit our minds to God, and resist the devil, with a certain and assured hope of victory: To be short, we must employ ourselves to come near unto God by purity and sincerity of life.
  3. James 4:9 He goeth on in the same comparison of contraries, and setteth against those profane joys with an earnest sorrow of mind, and against pride and arrogance, holy modesty.
  4. James 4:9 By this word the Greeks meant an heaviness joined with shamefastness, which is to be seen in a cast down countenance, and settled as it were upon the ground.

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

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Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[a]?(A) But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[b](B)

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,(C) and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.(D) Wash your hands,(E) you sinners, and purify your hearts,(F) you double-minded.(G) Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.(H) 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. James 4:5 Or that the spirit he caused to dwell in us envies intensely; or that the Spirit he caused to dwell in us longs jealously
  2. James 4:6 Prov. 3:34