Things to Avoid

1 1What is the source of quarrels and aconflicts among you? 2Is not the source your pleasures that wage bwar in your members?

2 You lust and do not have; so you acommit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

3 You ask and ado not receive, because you ask 1with wrong motives, so that you may spend it 2on your pleasures.

4 You aadulteresses, do you not know that friendship with bthe world is chostility toward God? dTherefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

5 Or do you think that the Scripture aspeaks to no purpose: “1He 2jealously desires bthe Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?

6 But aHe gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “bGod is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

7 aSubmit therefore to God. bResist the devil and he will flee from you.

8 aDraw near to God and He will draw near to you. bCleanse your hands, you sinners; and cpurify your hearts, you ddouble-minded.

9 aBe miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

10 aHumble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

11 aDo not speak against one another, bbrethren. He who speaks against a brother or cjudges his brother, speaks against dthe law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not ea doer of the law but a judge of it.

12 There is only one aLawgiver and Judge, the One who is bable to save and to destroy; but cwho are you who judge your neighbor?