Yǎgèshū 4:2

2 Nǐmen tānliàn , háishì dé bu zhaó . nǐmen shāhaì jídù , yòu dòuōu zhēng zhàn , yĕ bùnéng dé . nǐmen dé bu zhaó , shì yīnwei nǐmen bù qiú .

Yǎgèshū 4:2 Meaning and Commentary

James 4:2

Ye lust, and have not
The apostle proceeds to show the unsuccessfulness of many in their desires and pursuits after worldly things; some might be like the sluggard, whose soul desireth all good things, and yet he has nothing, ( Proverbs 13:4 ) because he does not make use of any means, even of such as are proper and necessary, and ought to be used:

ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain;
some, instead of kill, which seems not so agreeable, read envy; and then the sense is, they envy at the good and happiness of others, and covet after another's property, but cannot enjoy it; all such envy and covetousness are fruitless, as well as sinful:

ye fight and war, yet ye have not;
go to law one with another about each other's property; or rather, make a great stir and hustle to get the things of the world; rise early, and sit up late; strive who should get most, and quarrel about what is gotten, and seek to get all advantages of one another; and yet still have not, what at least is desired and strove for:

because ye ask not;
of God, whose blessing only makes rich: instead of all this worldly stir and bustle, and these strivings and quarrellings with one another, it would be much more advisable, and, in the issue, be found to turn to more account, to pray to God for a blessing on your endeavours; and to ask of him the good and necessary things of life, in submission to his will, and with thankfulness for what he has bestowed.

Yǎgèshū 4:2 In-Context

1 Nǐmen zhōngjiān de zhēng zhàn dòuōu , shì cóng nàli lái de ne . bú shì cóng nǐmen bǎi tǐ zhōng zhàn dòu zhī sīyù lái de ma .

2 Nǐmen tānliàn , háishì dé bu zhaó . nǐmen shāhaì jídù , yòu dòuōu zhēng zhàn , yĕ bùnéng dé . nǐmen dé bu zhaó , shì yīnwei nǐmen bù qiú .

3 Nǐmen qiú yĕ dé bu zhaó , shì yīnwei nǐmen wàng qiú , yào làngfeì zaì nǐmen de yàn lè zhōng .

4 Nǐmen zhèxie yínluàn de rén nǎ , ( yínluàn de rén yuánwén zuò yín fù ) qǐbù zhī yǔ shìsú wéi yǒu , jiù shì yǔ shén wéi dí ma . suǒyǐ fán xiǎng yào yǔ shìsú wéi yǒu de , jiù shì yǔ shén wéi dí le .

5 Nǐmen xiǎng jīng shang suǒ shuō de shì túrán de ma . shén suǒ cì zhù zaì wǒmen lǐmiàn de líng , shì liànaì zhìyú jídù ma .