Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

James 4:3

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 3 When you do ask, you do not receive because you are asking for a wrong purpose, so that you may spend it on your fleshly desires.

James 4:3

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 3 αἰτεῖτε YOU are asking καὶ and οὐ not λαμβάνετε, YOU are receiving, διότι through which κακῶς badly αἰτεῖσθε, YOU are asking for selves, ἵνα in order that ἐν in ταῖς the ἡδοναῖς pleasures ὑμῶν of YOU δαπανήσητε. YOU might spend.

James 4:3

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 3 YOU do ask, and yet YOU do not receive, because YOU are asking for a wrong purpose,+ that YOU may expend [it] upon YOUR cravings for sensual pleasure.+

James 4:3

The Bible in Living English
- 3 you ask and do not get because you ask wrongly, to spend it in your pleasures.

James 4:3

American Standard Version
- 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures.

James 4:3

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

James 4:3

King James Version
- 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James Study Notes—Chapter 4

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 4:3
  
  you do not receive because you are asking for a wrong purpose: Some of James’ readers were primarily concerned with satisfying their own desires. So they prayed with no concern about God’s will or about how others might be affected. If Jehovah did give them something, they would probably not appreciate it and would use it in selfish ways. Therefore, Jehovah did not grant their requests. (Compare Isa 1:15.) Jehovah answers only those who seek to live in harmony with his will and who want to help others.—Pr 28:9; Mt 7:11; 1Jo 3:22.