James 3:16-4:10

New International Version

¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition,^(A) there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven^(B) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,^(C) considerate, submissive, full of mercy^(D) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.^{(E) 18} Peacemakers^(F) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.^(G)

Submit Yourselves to God

4 What causes fights and quarrels^(H) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle^(I) within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill.^(J) 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,^(K) because you ask with wrong motives,^(L) that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴ You adulterous^(M) people,^[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world^(N) means enmity against God?^(O) Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.^{(P) 5} Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us^[b]?^{(Q) 6} But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,^(S) and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you.^(T) Wash your hands,^(U) you sinners, and purify your hearts,^(V) you double-minded.^{(W) 9} Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.^{(X) 10} Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.^(Y)