James 4:2
Good News Translation
You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it.

New Revised Standard Version
You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Contemporary English Version
You want something you don't have, and you will do anything to get it. You will even kill! But you still cannot get what you want, and you won't get it by fighting and arguing. You should pray for it.

New American Bible
You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask.

Douay-Rheims Bible
You covet, and have not: you kill and envy and cannot obtain. You contend and war, and you have not: because you ask not.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

You covet, and have not: you kill and envy and cannot obtain. You contend and war, and you have not: because you ask not.

lust.

James 5:1-5 Go to now, ye rich men: weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you. . . .

Proverbs 1:19 Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:

Ecclesiastes 4:8 There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.

Habakkuk 2:5 And as wine deceiveth him that drinketh it: so shall the proud man be, and he shall not be honoured: who hath enlarged his desire like hell: and is himself like death, and he is never satisfied: but will gather together unto him all nations, and heap together unto him all people.

1 Timothy 6:9,10 For they that will become rich fall into temptation and into the snare of the devil and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men into destruction and perdition. . . .

kill.

James 1:5 But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men abundantly and upbraideth not. And it shall be given him.

Isaiah 7:12 And Achaz said: I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord.

Matthew 7:7,8 Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. . . .

Luke 11:9-13 And I say to you: Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. . . .

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her: If thou didst know the gift of God and who he is that saith to thee: Give me to drink; thou perhaps wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

John 16:24 Hitherto, you have not asked any thing in my name. Ask, and you shall receive; that your joy may be full.

Context
Warning against Pride
1From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your concupiscences, which war in your members? 2You covet, and have not: you kill and envy and cannot obtain. You contend and war, and you have not: because you ask not. 3You ask and receive not: because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your concupiscences.…
Cross References
James 5:6
You have condemned and put to death the Just One: and he resisted you not.

1 John 3:15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself.

James 4:1
Top of Page
Top of Page