James 4:5
“Doe ye thinke that the Scripture saith in vaine, the spirit that dwelleth in vs lusteth to enuy?”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
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James 4:5 Context
3Ye aske and receiue not, because ye aske amisse, that yee may consume it vpon your lusts. 4Ye adulterers, and adulteresses, know yee not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoeuer therefore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God. 5Doe ye thinke that the Scripture saith in vaine, the spirit that dwelleth in vs lusteth to enuy? 6But he giueth more grace, wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proude, but giueth grace vnto the humble. 7Submit your selues therefore to God: resist the deuill, and hee will flee from you.
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Other Translations for James 4:5
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
- King James Version
Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us?"
- New American Standard Version (1995)
Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?
- American Standard Version (1901)
Or does it seem to you that it is for nothing that the holy Writings say, The spirit which God put into our hearts has a strong desire for us?
- Basic English Bible
Think ye that the scripture speaks in vain? Does the Spirit which has taken his abode in us desire enviously?
- Darby Bible
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
- Webster's Bible
Or do you suppose that it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "The Spirit which He has caused to dwell in our hearts yearns jealously over us"?
- Weymouth Bible
Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously"?
- World English Bible
Whether ye gessen, that the scripture seith veynli, The spirit that dwellith in you, coueitith to enuye?
- Wycliffe Bible
Do ye think that emptily the Writing saith, `To envy earnestly desireth the spirit that did dwell in us,'
- Youngs Literal Bible
Wesley's Notes for James 4:5
4:5 Do you think that the scripture saith in vain - Without good ground. St. James seems to refer to many, not any one particular scripture. The spirit of love that dwelleth in all believers lusteth against envy - #Gal 5:17|; is directly opposite to all those unloving tempers which necessarily flow from the friendship of the world.
People's Bible Notes for James 4:5
Jas 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain? The reference is to De 32:1-47, where God's love and jealousy of his people are described. The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? "Long unto envying" (Revised Version). Long for our love even to the envy of the worldly objects which have secured it. The Revised Version suggests the idea, which harmonizes with the thought in Jas 4:4. A freer translation will make it plainer. "The spirit that he (God) hath placed in us desireth us jealously", that is, desires we should not commit adultery with the world, but be wholly devoted to God, as those espoused to God in Christ, and even envies the world which has secured our love.