James 4:2

1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

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

Compare

BSB
You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.
KJV
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
WEB
You lust, and don’t have. You murder and covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask.
ASV
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.
DARBY
Ye lust and have not: ye kill and are full of envy, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war; ye have not because ye ask not.
BLB
You⁺ desire, and you⁺ do not have. You⁺ murder and are jealous, and you⁺ are not able to obtain. You⁺ fight and battle. You⁺ do not have, because you⁺ do not ask.
ÅB
Dere attrår, og har ikke; dere slår ihjel og bærer avind, og kan ikke få; dere ligger i strid og ufred. Dere har ikke, fordi dere ikke ber;
OTB
Dere begjærer og har ikke, så dere begår mord. Dere misunner og kan ikke oppnå, så dere krangler og kjemper. Dere har ikke fordi dere ikke ber til Gud.
B1930
I attrår, og har ikke; I slår ihjel og bærer avind, og kan ikke få; I ligger i strid og ufred. I har ikke, fordi I ikke beder;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • John 16:24

    Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 7:7–8

    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

    Read in context
  • James 1:5

    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.

    Read in context
  • Luke 11:9–13

    And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

    Read in context
  • John 4:10

    Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

    Read in context
  • 1 Timothy 6:9–10

    But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 1:19

    So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

    Read in context
  • James 5:1–5

    Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

    Read in context