James 4:3

Modern

And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

Traditional

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

Literal

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, that you may spend it in your pleasures.

Latin

Petitis, et non accipitis: eo quod male petatis: ut in concupiscentiis vestris insumatis.

Greek

English

And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

Theme notes and profiles

1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 3:22
…and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
James 1:6–7
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.
James 4:1
What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?
Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Micah 3:4
Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done.
Psalm 66:18–19
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Job 35:12
There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men.
Zechariah 7:13
And just as I had called and they would not listen, so when they called I would not listen, says the LORD of Hosts.
Job 27:8–10
For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?
Luke 16:1–2
Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
Proverbs 21:13
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.