Or do you think it’s without reason that the Scripture says: The spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely?[a](A)

But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says:

God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble.[b](B)

Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.(C) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.(D) Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.(E) 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 4:5 Or Scripture says: He jealously yearns for the spirit he made to live in us?, or Scripture says: The Spirit he made to dwell in us longs jealously?
  2. 4:6 Pr 3:34

Or do you think that in vain the scripture says, “The spirit which he caused to dwell in us desires jealously”?[a] But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says,

“God opposes the proud,
    but gives grace to the humble.”[b]

Therefore subject yourselves to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded! Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your[c] joy to gloominess. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. James 4:5 This translation takes “spirit” to be the capacity within people that produces a divided mind and conflicts regarding God; other translations take this to refer to the Holy Spirit: “He (God) jealously desires the Spirit which he caused to dwell in us”
  2. James 4:6 A quotation from Prov 3:34
  3. James 4:9 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun