James

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James 4

King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context

About this chapter

AI-assisted, sourced

James says quarrels come from "your lusts that war in your members," and "ye have not, because ye ask not," or ask amiss, while "the friendship of the world is enmity with God." "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble," so "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." Do not speak evil of one another, and do not boast about tomorrow, for life "is even a vapour": "ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." James 4:1James 4:2James 4:3James 4:4James 4:6James 4:7James 4:8James 4:11James 4:14James 4:15James overviewJames 4:13James 4:16

Who, where, when, and the key verses

Who

James addresses "brethren," and also those he calls "adulterers and adulteresses," "sinners" and "double minded." James 4:4James 4:8James 4:11James overview

Where

The letter does not say where it was written or name a place; it goes to "the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad." Traditionally it was written from Jerusalem. James overview

When

Traditionally about AD 45-62, before James's death. Many scholars think it was written in James's name later, about AD 70-100; others hold that the Lord's brother wrote it. James overview

How it fits

Chapter 3 ended with "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace"; this chapter exposes the quarrels that come from the wrong wisdom. Chapter 5 turns to "ye rich men," then to patience "unto the coming of the Lord." James 3:16James 3:18James 4:1James 5:1

Key verses

Takeaway

Humble yourself before God, resist the devil, and hold your plans loosely, saying, "If the Lord will." James 4:7James 4:10James 4:15

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-30.

Submit to God

1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Do not judge your brother

11Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

If the Lord will

13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.