^3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.²¹^3:14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. ^3:15Such²² wisdom does not come²³ from above but is earthly, natural,²⁴ demonic. ^3:16For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. ^3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating,²⁵ full of mercy and good fruit,²⁶ impartial, and not hypocritical.²⁷^3:18And the fruit that consists of righteousness²⁸ is planted²⁹ in peace among³⁰ those who make peace.

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James 3:13: Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Footnotes

21 Grk “works in the gentleness of wisdom.”
22 Grk “This.”
23 Grk “come down”; “descend.”
24 Grk “soulish,” which describes life apart from God, characteristic of earthly human life as opposed to what is spiritual. Cf. 1 Cor 2:14; 15:44–46; Jude 19.
25 Or “willing to yield,” “open to persuasion.”
26 Grk “fruits.” The plural Greek term καρπούς has been translated with the collective singular “fruit.”
27 Or “sincere.”
28 Grk “the fruit of righteousness,” meaning righteous living as a fruit, as the thing produced.
29 Grk “is sown.”
30 Or “for,” or possibly “by.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.

NLTNew Living Translation

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works, with the humility of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, obedient, full of mercy and good fruits, nonjudgmental, without hypocrisy, And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace among those who make peace.

KJV 1900King James Version

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

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