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

Or do you think the Scripture means nothing when it says that the Spirit that God[a] caused to live in us jealously yearns for us?[b] But he gives all the more grace. And so he says,

“God opposes the arrogant
    but gives grace to the humble.”[c]

Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you. Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable, mourn, and cry. Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the Lord’s presence, and he will exalt you.

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