James 3:13-4:12

New King James Version

Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

¹³^(A)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴But if you have ^(B)bitter envy and ^[a]self-seeking in your hearts, ^(C)do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵^(D)This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶For ^(E)where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷But ^(F)the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, ^(G)without partiality ^(H)and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸^(I)Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Pride Promotes Strife

4 Where do ^[b]wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure ^(J)that war in your members? ²You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and ^[c]war. ^[d]Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³^(K)You ask and do not receive, ^(L)because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ⁴^[e]Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that ^(M)friendship with the world is enmity with God? ^(N)Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ^(O)“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

⁶But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

^(P)“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Humility Cures Worldliness

⁷Therefore submit to God. ^(Q)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸^(R)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. ^(S)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and ^(T)purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹^(U)Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰^(V)Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Do Not Judge a Brother

¹¹^(W)Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother ^(X)and 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. ¹²There is one ^[f]Lawgiver, ^(Y)who is able to save and to destroy. ^(Z)Who^[g] are you to judge ^[h]another?