The document contrasts jealousy, ambition and self-seeking with gentleness, mercy and peace. It states that envy and selfish ambition lead to disorder and wickedness, while wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle and willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits without partiality or hypocrisy. Conflicts come from inner desires that are not fulfilled, leading people to commit murder or engage in disputes to obtain what they want but do not have.

1. JamesJames
3:16-18 4: 1-33:16-18 4: 1-3

2. Jealousy,Jealousy,
ambition,ambition,
and self-seekingand self-seeking
contrasted tocontrasted to
gentleness,gentleness,
mercymercy
and peace.and peace.

3. For where there is envyFor where there is envy
and selfish ambition,and selfish ambition,

4. there will also be disorder andthere will also be disorder and
wickedness of every kind.wickedness of every kind.

5. But the wisdom from above is first pure,But the wisdom from above is first pure,

6. then peaceable, gentle,then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield,willing to yield,

7. full of mercy and good fruits,full of mercy and good fruits,

8. without a trace of partialitywithout a trace of partiality
or hypocrisy.or hypocrisy.

9. And
a harvest
of righteousness
is sown in peace
for those
who make peace.

10. Those conflicts and disputes among you,Those conflicts and disputes among you,
where do they come from?where do they come from?

11. Do they not come from your ravingsDo they not come from your ravings
that are at war within you?that are at war within you?

12. You want something and do not have it;You want something and do not have it;
so you commit murder.so you commit murder.

13. And you covet somethingAnd you covet something
and cannot obtain it;and cannot obtain it;
so you engage in disputes and conflicts.so you engage in disputes and conflicts.

14. You do not have, because you do not ask.You do not have, because you do not ask.

15. You ask and do not receive,You ask and do not receive,
because you ask wrongly,because you ask wrongly,

16. in order to spend what you getin order to spend what you get
on your pleasures.on your pleasures.