James 3:14
But if you have bitter envy in your heart and the desire to get the better of others, have no pride in this, talking falsely against what is true.
Bible in Basic English
In The King James Version
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
In Context
13Who has wisdom and good sense among you? let him make his works clear by a life of gentle wisdom.
15This wisdom is not from heaven, but is of the earth and the flesh and the Evil One.
Cross References
Genesis 37:11And his brothers were full of envy; but his father kept his words in mind.
2 Kings 10:16And he said, Come with me and see how I am on fire for the Lord's cause. So he made him go with him in his carriage.
Job 5:2For wrath is the cause of death to the foolish, and he who has no wisdom comes to his end through passion.
Proverbs 27:4Wrath is cruel, and angry feeling an overflowing stream; but who does not give way before envy?
Habakkuk 1:3Why do you make me see evil-doing, and why are my eyes fixed on wrong? for wasting and violent acts are before me: and there is fighting and bitter argument.
John 16:2They will put you out of the Synagogues: yes, the time is coming when whoever puts you to death will have the belief that he is doing God's pleasure.
Matthew Henry on James 3:14-18
Properties of Wisdom. ( a. d. 61.) 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be… Read the whole commentary →