James 1:6

4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

5 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.

But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

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

Compare

BSB
But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
KJV
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.
WEB
But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
ASV
But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.
DARBY
but let him ask in faith, nothing doubting. For he that doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed about;
BLB
But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for the one doubting is like a wave of the sea, being blown and being tossed by the wind.
ÅB
Men han be i tro, uten å tvile; for den som tviler, ligner havsbølgen, som drives og kastes av vinden.
OTB
Men dere må be i tro, uten å tvile, for den som tviler er som en bølge på havet, drevet og kastet av vinden.
B1930
Men han bede i tro, uten å tvile; for den som tviler, ligner havsbølgen, som drives og kastes av vinden.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Matthew 21:21–22

    “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 11:6

    And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

    Read in context
  • Mark 11:22–24

    “Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them.

    Read in context
  • Ephesians 4:14

    Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 10:23

    Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 13:9

    Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.

    Read in context
  • 1 Timothy 2:8

    Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.

    Read in context