Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, August 26th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

James 1:7

If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Character;   Instability;   Prayer;   Unbelief;   Wicked (People);   Thompson Chain Reference - Prayer;   Wicked, the;   The Topic Concordance - Wavering;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prayer, Answers to;   Steadfastness;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Wisdom;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Doubt;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Double-Minded;   Integrity;   James, the Letter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Prayer;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - James Epistle of;   Perseverance;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Prayer;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Temptation;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Prayer;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for September 15;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 11;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord,
King James Version (1611)
For let not that man thinke that he shall receiue any thing of the Lord.
King James Version
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
English Standard Version
For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
New American Standard Bible
For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
New Century Version
Such doubters are thinking two different things at the same time, and they cannot decide about anything they do. They should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
Berean Standard Bible
That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Contemporary English Version
If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind, and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you anything at all.
Complete Jewish Bible
Indeed that person should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord,
Darby Translation
for let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord;
Easy-to-Read Version
People like that are thinking two different things at the same time. They can never decide what to do. So they should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Neither let that man thinke that hee shall receiue any thing of the Lord.
George Lamsa Translation
Thus let not that man expect that he will receive anything of the LORD.
Lexham English Bible
For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
Literal Translation
for do not let that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
Amplified Bible
For such a person ought not to think or expect that he will receive anything [at all] from the Lord,
American Standard Version
For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;
Bible in Basic English
Let it not seem to such a man that he will get anything from the Lord;
Hebrew Names Version
For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
International Standard Version
Such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Etheridge Translation
And let not that man expect to receive any thing from the Lord,
Murdock Translation
And let not that man expect to receive any thing of the Lord,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Neither let that man thynke that he shall receaue any thyng of the Lorde.
English Revised Version
For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;
World English Bible
For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord.
Weymouth's New Testament
A person of that sort must not expect to receive anything from the Lord--
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor gesse not the ilke man, that he schal take ony thing of the Lord.
Update Bible Version
For do not let that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;
Webster's Bible Translation
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord.
New English Translation
For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
New King James Version
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
New Living Translation
Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
New Life Bible
Such a man will get nothing from the Lord.
New Revised Standard
for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord -
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man[1][RSV translation combines verses 7 and 8 into verse 7], unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Nether let that man thinke that he shall receave eny thinge of the Lorde.
Young's Literal Translation
for let not that man suppose that he shall receive anything from the Lord --
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Nether let yt man thinke that he shal receaue eny thige of ye LORDE.
Mace New Testament (1729)
such a man must not expect any answer from the Lord.
Simplified Cowboy Version
The Boss ain't gonna give a saddle to the fella who can't decide if he wants to walk or ride.

Contextual Overview

2 My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, 3 for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. 4 Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. 6 But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind. 7If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord. 9 Those Christians who are poor must be glad when God lifts them up, 10 and the rich Christians must be glad when God brings them down. For the rich will pass away like the flower of a wild plant. 11 The sun rises with its blazing heat and burns the plant; its flower falls off, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way the rich will be destroyed while they go about their business. 12 Happy are those who remain faithful under trials, because when they succeed in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

James 4:3, Proverbs 15:8, Proverbs 21:27, Isaiah 1:15, Isaiah 58:3, Isaiah 58:4

Reciprocal: 2 Corinthians 6:13 - be Ephesians 2:2 - walked according

Cross-References

Genesis 1:8
He named the dome "Sky." Evening passed and morning came—that was the second day.
Genesis 1:9
Then God commanded, "Let the water below the sky come together in one place, so that the land will appear"—and it was done.
Genesis 1:11
Then he commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of plants, those that bear grain and those that bear fruit"—and it was done.
Genesis 1:15
they will shine in the sky to give light to the earth"—and it was done.
Genesis 1:24
Then God commanded, "Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life: domestic and wild, large and small"—and it was done.
Genesis 1:28
blessed them, and said, "Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals.
Genesis 1:29
I have provided all kinds of grain and all kinds of fruit for you to eat;
Job 26:8
It is God who fills the clouds with water and keeps them from bursting with the weight.
Psalms 104:10
You make springs flow in the valleys, and rivers run between the hills.
Psalms 148:4
Praise him, highest heavens, and the waters above the sky.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For let not that man think,.... Imagine, conclude, or please himself with such thoughts,

that he shall receive anything from the Lord; wisdom, or anything else, he is seeking after; for wanting faith, he has nothing to receive with; faith is the grace, which receives the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and all grace from him; which receives a justifying righteousness, pardon of sin, adoption of children, and even the everlasting inheritance, at least, the right unto it; wherefore those who have not faith, as the wavering man, cannot receive any thing.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord - Compare Hebrews 11:6. A man can hope for favor from God only as he puts confidence in him. He sees the heart; and if he sees that there is no belief in his existence, or his perfections - no real trust in him - no reliance on his promises, his wisdom, his grace - it cannot be proper that he should grant an answer to our petitions. That will account sufficiently for the fact that there are so many prayers unanswered; that we so frequently go to the throne of grace, and are sent empty away. A man that goes to God in such a state of mind, should not expect to receive any favor.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. Let not that man think — The man whose mind is divided, who is not properly persuaded either of his own wants or God's sufficiency. Such persons may pray, but having no faith, they can get no answer.


 
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