New: Plus articles on faith, family and the Bible. Read them →

Berean Standard Bible

“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.”

James 4:2

Save as image

Study note

James addresses conflicts within the community and asks where quarrels and fights come from. His answer is that desires battle inside people.

Open Study notes above for the full note.

Compare translations

Berean Standard Bible (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.

World English Bible (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.

King James Version (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.

American Standard Version (ASV)

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

You are burning with desire, and have not your desire, so you put men to death; you are full of envy, and you are not able to get your desire, so you are fighting and making war; you have not your desire, because you do not make request for it.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

you desire, and you have not; you murder, and are zealous, and are not able to attain; you fight and war, and you have not, because of your not asking;

Reina-Valera 1909 (RVR 1909)

Codiciáis, y no tenéis; matáis y ardéis de envidia, y no podéis alcanzar; combatís y guerreáis, y no tenéis lo que deseáis, porque no pedís.

Sagradas Escrituras 1569 (SE 1569)

—

Nueva Biblia Viva (NBV)

Ustedes desean algo y no lo consiguen. Entonces matan y sienten envidia, porque no pueden obtener lo que quieren. Pelean y se hacen la guerra. No tienen porque no piden.

This verse appears in

Be the first to discuss this verse in Yeshva.

Share your thoughts on this verse with the Yeshva community.

Discuss in Yeshva