James 4:1-10

New King James Version

Pride Promotes Strife

4 Where do ^[a]wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure ^(A)that war in your members? ²You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and ^[b]war. ^[c]Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³^(B)You ask and do not receive, ^(C)because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ⁴^[d]Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that ^(D)friendship with the world is enmity with God? ^(E)Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ^(F)“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

⁶But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

^(G)“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Humility Cures Worldliness

⁷Therefore submit to God. ^(H)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸^(I)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. ^(J)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and ^(K)purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹^(L)Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰^(M)Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.