James 4:1-10

New American Standard Bible 1995

Things to Avoid

4 ^[a]What is the source of quarrels and ^(A)conflicts among you? ^[b]Is not the source your pleasures that wage ^(B)war in your members? ² You lust and do not have; so you ^(C)commit murder. 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 ^[c]with wrong motives, so that you may spend it ^[d]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 wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture ^(I)speaks to no purpose: “^[e]He ^[f]jealously desires ^(J)the Spirit which 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. ^(N)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ^8 (O)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. ^(P)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and ^(Q)purify your hearts, you ^(R)double-minded. ^9 (S)Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. ^10 (T)Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.