Catholic Epistle
A Reading from Epistle of St. James .
May his blessing be upon us.
Amen.
James 3 : 13 - 4 : 4
Chapter 3
| 13 | Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
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| 14 | But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
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| 15 | This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
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| 16 | For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
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| 17 | But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
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| 18 | Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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Chapter 4
| 1 | Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
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| 2 | You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
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| 3 | You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
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| 4 | Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not 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.
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Do not love the world or the things in the world.
The world passes away, and its desires; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Amen.
