James 3:13-4:10
New American Standard Bible
Wisdom from Above
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? (A)Let him show by his (B)good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter (C)jealousy and [a]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against (D)the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down (E)from above, but is (F)earthly, [b](G)natural, (H)demonic. 16 For where (I)jealousy and [c]selfish ambition exist, [d]there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom (J)from above is first (K)pure, then (L)peace-loving, (M)gentle, [e]reasonable, (N)full of mercy and good fruits, [f](O)impartial, free of (P)hypocrisy. 18 And the (Q)fruit of righteousness is sown in peace [g]by those who make peace.
Things to Avoid
4 [h]What is the source of quarrels and (R)conflicts among you? [i]Is the source not your pleasures that wage (S)war in [j]your body’s parts? 2 You lust and do not have, so you (T)commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and (U)do not receive, because you ask [k]with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request [l]on your pleasures. 4 You (V)adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with (W)the world is (X)hostility toward God? (Y)Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture (Z)says to no purpose, “[m]He [n]jealously desires (AA)the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But (AB)He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “(AC)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 (AD)Submit therefore to God. But [o](AE)resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 (AF)Come close to God and He will come close to you. (AG)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and (AH)purify your hearts, you (AI)[p]double-minded. 9 (AJ)Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. 10 (AK)Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Footnotes
- James 3:14 Or strife
- James 3:15 Or unspiritual
- James 3:16 Or strife
- James 3:16 I.e., in that place
- James 3:17 Or willing to yield
- James 3:17 Or unwavering
- James 3:18 Or for
- James 4:1 Lit From where wars and from where fightings
- James 4:1 Lit Are they not from here, from your
- James 4:1 Lit your parts
- James 4:3 Lit wrongly
- James 4:3 Lit in
- James 4:5 Or The spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy
- James 4:5 Lit desires to jealousy
- James 4:7 Or oppose
- James 4:8 I.e., chronic doubters
James 3:13-4:10
New King James Version
Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom
13 (A)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have (B)bitter envy and [a]self-seeking in your hearts, (C)do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 (D)This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For (E)where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But (F)the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, (G)without partiality (H)and without hypocrisy. 18 (I)Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Pride Promotes Strife
4 Where do [b]wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure (J)that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and [c]war. [d]Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 (K)You ask and do not receive, (L)because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 [e]Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that (M)friendship with the world is enmity with God? (N)Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, (O)“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
(P)“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
Humility Cures Worldliness
7 Therefore submit to God. (Q)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 (R)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (S)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and (T)purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 (U)Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 (V)Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Footnotes
- James 3:14 selfish ambition
- James 4:1 battles
- James 4:2 battle
- James 4:2 NU, M omit Yet
- James 4:4 NU omits Adulterers and
James 3:13-4:10
New International Version
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it(A) by their good life, by deeds(B) done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(C) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(D) 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven(E) but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.(F) 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition,(G) there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(H) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(I) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(J) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(K) 18 Peacemakers(L) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.(M)
Submit Yourselves to God
4 What causes fights and quarrels(N) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle(O) within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill.(P) You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive,(Q) because you ask with wrong motives,(R) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous(S) people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world(T) means enmity against God?(U) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.(V) 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]?(W) 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,(Y) and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.(Z) Wash your hands,(AA) you sinners, and purify your hearts,(AB) you double-minded.(AC) 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.(AD) 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.(AE)
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