James 1:5

³ Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

⁶ But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

⁷ For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
KJV: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
WEB: But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
ASV: But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
DARBY: But if any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all freely and reproaches not, and it shall be given to him:
BLB: Now if any of you⁺ lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, the One giving generously to all and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

ÅB: Men dersom noen av dere mangler visdom, da be han Gud, han som gir alle villig og uten onde ord, og den skal gis ham.
OTB: Hvis noen av dere mangler visdom, la dem be til Gud, som gir rikelig til alle uten bebreidelse, og det vil bli gitt dem.
B1930: Men dersom nogen av eder mangler visdom, da bede han Gud, han som gir alle villig og uten onde ord, og den skal gis ham.

Short explanation

If anyone lacks wisdom, they can ask God for it, and God gives generously without finding fault. Wisdom is something you can ask for.

Context: James writes about holding out in trials.

See also: Proverbs 2:6, Matthew 7:7

The explanation was written by an AI and has not yet been reviewed by a person. All explanations

Proverbs 2:3–6
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
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John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
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Jeremiah 29:12–13
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
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Proverbs 3:5–7
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
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1 John 5:14–15
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
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Matthew 7:7–11
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
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2 Chronicles 1:10
Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
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James 3:17
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
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