James 4:1-10 ▼

1 FROM whence come wars and conflicts among you? spring they not from hence, even from your passions, which war in your members?

2 Ye eagerly covet, yet have not: ye murder, and are envious, yet cannot obtain your object ; ye wage war, but have not, because ye pray not.

3 Ye ask, and receive nothing, because ye ask vilely, in order to consume it on your sensual appetites.

4 Ye adulterers and adultresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity against God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is set down an enemy to God.

5 Think ye that the scripture saith without meaning, The spirit which dwelleth in you strongly urges to envy?

6 But he giveth mightier grace. Wherefore he saith, ?God sets himself against the proud, but giveth grace to the lowly.?

7 Be in subjection then to God. Resist the devil, and he will fly from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Make clean your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.

9 Be bitterly afflicted and lament, and let your tears run down; let your laughter be converted into mourning, and your joy into dejection.

10 Be humbled in the presence of God, so he will exalt you.