James 4:3 - Easy To Read Version

³ Or when you ask, you don’t receive. Why? Because the reason you ask is wrong. You only want things so that you can use those things for your own pleasures.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

³ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

³ [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.

American Standard Version (1901)

³ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures.

Common English Bible

³ You ask and don’t have because you ask with evil intentions, to waste it on your own cravings.

Catholic Public Domain Version

³ You ask and you do not receive, because you ask badly, so that you may use it toward your own desires.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

³ You ask, and receive not; because you ask amiss: that you may consume it on your concupiscences.

James 4:3 Cross References

1 Kings 3:11

So God said to him, “You did not ask for long life for yourself. And you did not ask for riches for yourself. You did not ask for the death of your enemies. You asked for the wisdom to listen and make the right decisions.

Job 35:12

“Or, if those bad people ask God for help\par then God will not answer them.\par Why? Because those people are too proud.\par They still think they are too important.\par

Psalm 18:41

My enemies called for help,\par but there was no one to save them.\par They even called to the Lord,\par but he did not answer them.\par

Proverbs 1:28

“When all these things happen, you will ask for my help. But I will not help you. You will look for me, but you will not find me.

Proverbs 15:8

The Lord hates the offerings that evil people give. But the Lord is happy to hear a good person’s prayers.

Proverbs 21:13

If a person refuses to help poor people, then there will be no help for him when he needs it.

Proverbs 21:27

The Lord is not happy when evil people offer him sacrifices, especially when those evil people are trying to get something from him.

Jeremiah 11:11

So the Lord says: “I will soon make something terrible happen to the people of Judah. They will not be able to escape! They will be sorry. And they will cry to me for help. But I will not listen to them.

Jeremiah 11:14

“As for you, Jeremiah, don’t pray for these people of Judah. Don’t beg for them. Don’t say prayers for them. I will not listen. Those people will begin to suffer. And then they will call to me for help. But I will not listen.

Jeremiah 14:12

The people of Judah might begin to fast {\cf2\super [122]} \{and pray to me\}. But I will not listen to their prayers. Even if they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings to me, I will not accept those people. I will destroy the people of Judah with war. I will take away their food, and the people of Judah will starve. And I will destroy them with terrible diseases.”

Micah 3:4

So, you might pray to the Lord,\par but he will not answer you.\par No, the Lord will hide his face from you.\par Why? Because you do evil things!”\par

Zechariah 7:13

So the Lord All-Powerful said,\par “I called to them,\par and they did not answer.\par So now, if they call to me,\par I will not answer.\par

Matthew 20:22

So Jesus said to the sons, “You don’t understand what you are asking. Can you accept the kind of suffering that I must have {\cf2\super [275]} ?”

Mark 10:38

Jesus said, “You don’t understand what you are asking. Can you accept the kind of suffering that I must have {\cf2\super [133]} ? Can you be baptized with the same kind of baptism {\cf2\super [134]} that I must have?”

Luke 11:10

Yes, if a person continues asking, that person will receive. If a person continues looking, that person will find. And if a person continues knocking, the door will open for that person.

Luke 15:13

Then the younger son gathered up all that he had and left. He traveled far away to another country. There the son wasted his money living like a fool.

Luke 15:30

But your other son has wasted all your money on prostitutes. {\cf2\super [260]} Then he comes home, and you kill the fat calf for him!’

James 4:1

Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? Your fights and arguments come from the selfish desires that make war inside you.

1 John 3:22

And God gives us the things we ask for. We receive these things because we obey God’s commands and we do the things that please God.

1 John 5:14

I hope to visit you soon. Then we can be together and talk.