James 4

1 What causes [whence, from where] conflicts [wars, fightings, battles] and quarrels [quarreling, fighting] among you? Don’t they come from [out of, hence, from here] the passions [lusts, desires, pleasures] at war [in conflict, battling] within you [in your members, in your body]? word study 2 You crave [lust, have intense desire for] what you do not have; you kill [murder, take a life] and covet [are zealous, envious], but are unable [lack the power] to obtain [attain, get] it. You quarrel [fight, dispute] and fight [make war, struggle]. You do not have [possess, hold], because you do not ask [request, pray for]. word study 3 And when you do ask [request, pray], you do not receive [take, accept], because you ask [amiss] with wrong motives [evil intentions, selfish desires], that you may squander [consume, spend] it on your pleasures [lusts, sensual delights, enjoy yourselves]. word study 4 You adulteresses [spiritually unfaithful, having an affair with the world]! Do you not know [are you not aware, have you not perceived] that friendship [close relationship, fondness] with the world [the system of humanity apart from God] is hostility [enmity, opposition] toward God [the one true deity, Creator]? Therefore [as a consequence, then], whoever chooses [desires, plans] to be a friend [ally, companion] of the world [the worldly system] renders [makes, appoints] himself an enemy [opponent, adversary] of God [the Almighty]. word study 5 Or [do you suppose] do you think the Scripture [holy Writings, God’s written word] says without reason [in vain, to no purpose] that the Spirit [the divine breath, God’s presence] He caused to dwell [to reside, make His home] in us yearns [longs, earnestly desires] with envy [jealousy, a strong desire]? word study 6 But He gives us more [greater, abundant] grace [unmerited favor, divine influence]. This is why it says: “God [the supreme Deity, Creator] opposes [resists, stands against] the proud [arrogant, haughty], but gives [bestows, grants] grace [graciousness, kindness] to the humble [lowly, submissive].” word study 7 Submit [be subject, put under God’s authority] yourselves, then [therefore, as a consequence], to God [the one true deity]. Resist [stand up against, oppose] the devil [the adversary, Satan], and he will flee [run away, depart] from you [away from your presence]. word study 8 Draw near [come close, approach] to God [the one true deity], and He will draw near [come close, be intimate] to you. Cleanse [purify, make clean] your hands [instruments of action], you sinners [evil-doers, wrongdoers], and purify [make clean, sanctify] your hearts [seat of thoughts, feelings], you double-minded [wavering, uncertain, having divided loyalties]. word study 9 Grieve [be afflicted, suffer], mourn [feel deep sorrow], and weep [cry out loud]. Turn your laughter [joyful expression] to mourning [a state of sorrow], and your joy [deep and lasting happiness] to gloom [a feeling of sadness]. word study 10 Humble [cast down, make low] yourselves [in the sight of] before the Lord [God, Master], and He will exalt [lift up, elevate] you. word study 11 Brothers [fellow believers, brethren], do not slander [speak evil of, detract] one another [each other, mutually]. Anyone who speaks against [criticizes, says evil of] his brother [fellow Christian, sibling] or judges [condemns, makes a decision about] him speaks against [opposes, criticizes] the law [God’s commandments, regulations] and judges [evaluates, condemns] it. And if you judge [condemn, make a decision about] the law [God’s commandments, principles], you are not a practitioner [doer, follower] of the law [God’s will, teachings], but a judge [critic, evaluator] of it. word study 12 There is only [exclusively] one Lawgiver [who creates laws, the supreme Legislator] and Judge [who renders verdicts, the ultimate Arbiter], the One [God, the Almighty] who is able [powerful, capable] to save [rescue, deliver] and [also] destroy [bring to ruin, annihilate]. But who [what person, which one] are you [a mere human] to judge [condemn, evaluate] your neighbor [fellow man, brother]? word study 13 Come now [at this moment], you who say [declare, proclaim], “Today [this present day] or tomorrow [the next day] we will go [travel, journey] to this [this specific] or that city [a town with walls], spend [continue, remain] a year [a cycle of time] there [in that place], carry on [engage in, conduct] business [trading goods], and make [acquire, gain] a profit [financial gain].” word study 14 You do not even know what will happen [or what events will occur] tomorrow [the next day, the future]! What is your life [existence, spiritual being]? You are a mist [vapor, ephemeral appearance] that appears for a little while [a brief time, a short span] and then vanishes [disappears, ceases to exist]. word study 15 Instead [in place of your current approach], you ought to say [as a matter of habit, with humility], “If [in the event that, with uncertainty] the Lord [God, the sovereign Master] is willing [has decreed, desires], we will live [have life, physically and spiritually] and do [accomplish, bring about] this [specific thing, task] or [as an alternative, a choice] that [thing, action].” word study 16 As it is [now, in this present time], you boast [glory, take pride] in your proud [arrogant, vain] intentions [boastings, vauntings]. All [every, each] such boasting [glorying, rejoicing] is evil [bad, wicked, morally wrong]. word study 17 Anyone [who has spiritual awareness, knows the right thing], then, who knows the right thing [what is good, to do good] to do, yet fails [does not act, neglects] to do it, is guilty [responsible, accountable] of sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards]. word study