1 From where do wars and from where do fights come among you? Is it not from here—from your pleasures {hedonon: self-gratifying desires} that are waging war {strateuomenon: actively battling} in your members?
2 You desire {epithumeite: selfish craving} and do not have; you kill and covet {zeloute: jealous striving}, and you are not able to obtain. You fight and wage war, yet you do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly {kakos: in a harmful or improper manner}, so that you might spend it on your pleasures {hedonai: sensual desires}.
4 You adulteresses, are you unaware that friendship {philia: intimate alliance} with the world constitutes enmity with God {Theos, Holy King}? Consequently, anyone who elects to be a friend of the world is constituted an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture {graphe: sacred writing} speaks in vain, “He {Theos, Zealous Indweller} yearns with jealous desire for the spirit that He has made to dwell in us”?
6 But He gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God {Theos, Generous Giver of Grace} sets Himself against the proud {huperephanois: self-exalting people}, but gives grace to the humble.”
7 Therefore submit yourselves to God {Theos, Supreme Authority}. But stand against the devil {diabolos: malicious accuser}, and he will flee from you.
8 Come near to God {Theos, Relationship Initiator} and He will come near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners {hamartoloi: those missing mark}, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Be miserable {talaiporesate: inwardly broken}, and mourn, and weep. Let your laughter become mourning, and let your joy become gloom {katepheian: dejected mood}.
10 Lower yourselves before the Lord {Kyrios, Sovereign Master}, and He will exalt {hupsoō: raise to honor} you.
11 Do not speak against one another, brothers {adelphoi: spiritual family bond}. Whoever speaks against or judges another brother is speaking against the law {nomos: covenant standard} and placing it under judgment; if, however, you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge.
12 There is only one who serves as lawgiver {nomothetes: giver of law} and judge, endowed with authority to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor {plesion: nearby person}?
13 Attend now {age: urgent call}, you who profess, “Today or tomorrow we intend to journey into this city, remain there for a year, conduct trade, and secure a profit {kerdaino: business gain}.”
14 You who do not know what will happen tomorrow {aurion: unknown future}—what is your life {zoe: fragile existence}? For you are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord {Kyrios, Sovereign Over Life} wills, we will live {zesomen: continue in existence} and we will do this or that.”
16 But now you boast in your arrogances {alazoneiais: pretentious claims}; all such boasting {kauchesis: self-exalting pride} is evil.
17 Therefore, for the one who knows to do good {kalon: morally right} and does not do it, for that one it is sin {hamartia: moral failure}.