James 3:13-18

Expanded Bible

True Wisdom

¹³ Are there those among you who are truly wise and ·understanding [insightful; discerning]? Then they should show it by ·living right [their good life/conduct/lifestyle] and ·doing good things [their deeds/works] with a ·gentleness [humility; meekness; Matt. 5:5; 11:29; Gal. 6:1] that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter ·jealousy [or envy] and ·are selfish [have selfish ambition] in your hearts, do not ·brag [boast; Jer. 9:23–24]. Your ·bragging [boasting] is a lie ·that hides [that denies; ^Lagainst] the truth [or Don’t cover up the truth with bragging or lying]. ¹⁵ That kind of “wisdom” does not come ·from God [^Ldown from above; ^Cthat is, from heaven] but ·from the world [is earthly]. It is ·not spiritual [natural; “soulish”; ^Chuman life apart from God; 1 Cor. 2:14]; it is ·from the devil [demonic]. ¹⁶ Where ·jealousy [or envy] and ·selfishness [selfish ambition] are, there will be ·confusion [chaos; disorder] and every ·kind of evil [evil thing/practice]. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from ·God [^Labove; 3:15] is first of all pure, then peaceful [peace-loving], gentle [patient; considerate], and ·easy to please [or willing to yield; or open to reason]. This wisdom is ·always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others [^Lfull of mercy and good fruits]. It is ·always fair [impartial] and ·honest [sincere; unhypocritical]. ¹⁸ ·People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right living [or Peacemakers who sow with peace will harvest a crop of justice/righteousness; Gal. 5:22–23].