James

4 Whence wars and whence fightings among you? Are they not from hence—due to your pleasures which are taking the field in your members?

2 Ye covet—and have not, Ye commit murder and are jealous—and cannot obtain,—Ye fight and war. Ye have not—Because ye do not really ask,

3 Ye ask and receive not Because that basely ye ask, In order that in your pleasures ye may spend [it].

4 Adulteresses! Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity to God? Whosoever therefore is minded to be a friend of the world An enemy of God doth constitute himself.

5 Or think ye that in vain the scripture speaketh? Is it for envying that the spirit which hath taken an abode within us doth crave?

6 Howbeit he giveth greater favour. Wherefore it saith—God against the haughty arrayeth himself, Whereas unto the lowly he giveth favour.

7 Range yourselves therefore under God, But withstand the adversary And he will flee from you:

8 Draw near unto God And he will draw near unto you. Cleanse hands, sinners! Chasten hearts, double souls!

9 Be miserable and lament and weep, Let your laughter into lamentation be turned And your joy into dejection;

10 Be made low in presence of the Lord And he will lift you up.

11 Be not speaking one against another, brethren! He that speaketh against a brother Or judgeth his brother Speaketh against law And judgeth law; Now if upon law thou art passing judgment Thou art not a doer of law but a judge!

12 One is Lawgiver and Judge—He who hath power to save and to destroy; But who art thou that judgest thy neighbour?

13 Come now! ye that say—To-day or To-morrow we will journey unto this city here, And will spend there a year And will trade and get gain,—

14 Men who are not versed in the morrow—Of what sort your life [will be]; For ye are a vapour—For a little appearing Then just disappearing!

15 Instead of your saying—If the Lord be pleased We shall both live and do this or that;

16 Whereas now are ye boasting in your pretensions:—All boasting like this is wicked,

17 To him therefore who knoweth how to be doing a right thing, And is not doing it It is sin unto him.