James 3:13–4:13
Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom
13 nWho 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 obitter envy and 8self-seeking in your hearts, pdo not boast and lie against the truth. 15 qThis wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For rwhere envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But sthe wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, twithout partiality uand without hypocrisy. 18 vNow the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
4 Where do 1wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure athat war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and 2war. 3Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 bYou ask and do not receive, cbecause you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 4Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that dfriendship with the world is enmity with God? eWhoever 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, f“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
g“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
7 Therefore submit to God. hResist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 iDraw near to God and He will draw near to you. jCleanse your hands, you sinners; and kpurify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 lLament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 mHumble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
11 nDo not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother oand judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one 5Lawgiver, pwho is able to save and to destroy. qWho 6are you to judge 7another?
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow 8we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;