James 3:14
12 My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
15 Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
- KJV
- But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
- WEB
- But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth.
- ASV
- But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.
- DARBY
- but if ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
- BLB
- But if you⁺ have bitter jealousy and self-interest in your⁺ heart, do not boast and lie against the truth.
- ÅB
- Men har dere besk avind og trettesyke i deres hjerter, da ros dere ikke mot sannheten og lyv ikke mot den!
- OTB
- Men hvis dere nærer bitter misunnelse og egoistisk ambisjon i hjertene deres, ikke skryt av det eller fornekt sannheten.
- B1930
- Men har I besk avind og trettesyke i eders hjerter, da ros eder ikke mot sannheten og lyv ikke mot den!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
James 3:16
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
Read in context1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Read in contextPhilippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
Read in context1 Corinthians 3:3
for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?
Read in contextRomans 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Read in context2 Corinthians 12:20
For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
Read in context1 Peter 2:1–2
Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
Read in contextPhilippians 1:15
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
Read in context