James 4:4

King James Version (KJV)

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Translations

James 4:4 - Amplified Bible

You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.

James 4:4 - American Standard Version

Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4 - Bible in Basic English

O you who are false to God, do you not see that the friends of this world are not God's friends? Every man desiring to be a friend of this world makes himself a hater of God.

James 4:4 - Darby Bible

Adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore is minded to be [the] friend of the world is constituted enemy of God.

James 4:4 - English Standard Version

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4 - King James Version

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

James 4:4 - La Biblia de las Americas

¡Oh almas adùlteras! ¿No sabéis que la amistad del mundo es enemistad hacia Dios? Por tanto, el que quiere ser amigo del mundo, se constituye enemigo de Dios.

James 4:4 - The Message

You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that "he’s a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."

James 4:4 - New American Standard Bible

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

¡Oh almas adùlteras (infieles)! ¿No saben ustedes que la amistad del mundo es enemistad hacia Dios? Por tanto, el que quiere ser amigo del mundo, se constituye enemigo de Dios.

James 4:4 - World English Bible

You adulterers and adulteresses, don`t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

James 4:4 - Young's Living Translation

Adulterers and adulteresses! have ye not known that friendship of the world is enmity with God? whoever, then, may counsel to be a friend of the world, an enemy of God he is set.

James 4:4 - Additional Comments

See Romans 12:2.
Why are they called adulterers? Their heart's passions lies with someone else - the world, which is a competitor with God. God is a very jealous God (vs 4:5).
You CANNOT be a friend of the world and a friend of God's. You cannot. So many people try to do that.
The implication in the passage is that being friends of the world is to be full of selfishness, rather than being friends with God, a selfless and giving position.

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