James 4:3
You ask and do not receive because you ask badly, in order that you may use it for your desires.
Unlocked Literal Bible
In The King James Version
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
In Context
Cross References
Job 27:8For what is the hope of a godless man when God cuts him off, 1 when God takes away his life? 1
Psalms 18:41They called for help, but no one saved them; they called out to Yahweh, but he did not answer them. 1
Proverbs 1:28Then they will call upon me, and I will not answer; 1 they will desperately call for me, but they will not find me. 1
Proverbs 21:13The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, 1 he also will cry out, but he will not be answered. 1
Isaiah 1:15So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; 1 even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen; 1 your hands are full of blood. 1
Jeremiah 11:14So you yourself, Jeremiah, must not pray for this people. You must not wail or pray on their behalf. For I will not be listening when they call on me in their disaster. 1
Matthew Henry on James 4:2-11
Origin of War and Contention; Against Pride; Submission to God. ( a. d. 61.) 1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 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… Read the whole commentary →