James 4

James identifies the source of quarrels and conflicts as the lusts that war within, and declares that friendship with the world is enmity with God. He calls on the proud to humble themselves before the Lord, warns against speaking evil of one another, and rebukes those who boast about tomorrow, saying their life is but a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?	From where come wars and fightings among you? Come they not from this — even from your lusts that war in your members?
2	Ye 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.	You lust, and have not; you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain; you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not.
3	Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.	You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your lusts.
4	Ye 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.	You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5	Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?	Do you think that the scripture says in vain, "The spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy"?
6	But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.	But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
7	Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.	Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8	Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.	Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you doubleminded.
9	Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.	Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10	Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.	Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.
11	Speak 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.	Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He who speaks evil of his brother, 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.
12	There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?	There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; who are you that judges another?
13	Go 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:	Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain";
14	Whereas 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.	whereas you do not know what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.
15	For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.	For you ought to say, "If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
16	But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.	But now you rejoice in your boastings; all such rejoicing is evil.
17	Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.	Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.