James 3:14,16 - Compare All Versions

Share

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish plotting. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish plotting. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

But if you are selfish and have bitter jealousy in your hearts, do not brag. Your bragging is a lie that hides the truth.

Where jealousy and selfishness are, there will be confusion and every kind of evil.

But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.

For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant, and [as a result] be in defiance of the truth.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder [unrest, rebellion] and every evil thing and morally degrading practice.

But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.

For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

But if there is bitter jealousy or competition hiding in your heart, then don’t deny it and try to compensate for it by boasting and being phony.

So wherever jealousy and selfishness are uncovered, you will also find many troubles and every kind of meanness.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.