James 3:13–4:6

The Wisdom from Above

¹³Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. ^w14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. ^x15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ^y16For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. ¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. ^z18And the fruit of righteousness ^ais sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

Proud or Humble

4What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings ^bthat are at war within you? ^c2You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. ³You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires. ^d

⁴Adulteresses! ^efDon’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy. ^g5Or do you think it’s without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously? ^hi

⁶But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says:

God resists the proud,

but gives grace to the humble. ^jk