James 4:4 (DRB)

Passage

Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world becometh an enemy of God.

Nearby Context

James 4:2 You covet, and have not: you kill and envy and cannot obtain. You contend and war, and you have not: because you ask not.

James 4:3 You ask and receive not: because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your concupiscences.

James 4:4 Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world becometh an enemy of God.

James 4:5 Or do you think that the scripture saith in vain: To envy doth the spirit covet which dwelleth in you?

James 4:6 But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "world", "adulterers", "friendship", "enemy", "whosoever", and "therefore". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "world" and "adulterers", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "You ask and receive not because you..." into verse 5's "Or do you think that the scripture...", so "world" and "adulterers" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "world" and "adulterers" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.