YAC 1:5 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, the one giving to all generously and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

UST If anyone of you needs to know what to do, let him ask God, and God will tell him. God gives generously to everyone. God does not scold people who ask for things.

BLB Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, the One giving generously to all and not finding fault, and it will be given to him.

AICNT But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of the God who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

OEB If any one of you lacks wisdom, they should ask wisdom from the God who gives freely to everyone without reproach, and it will be given to them.

CSB Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.

NLT If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

NIV If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

CEV If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking.

ESV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

NASB But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

LSB But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

WEBBE But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(5-8)If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

NET But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.

LSV And if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, who is giving to all generously, and not reproaching, and it will be given to him;

FBV If any of you need wisdom, ask God, who gives generously to everyone without holding back.

TCNT If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.

T4T If anyone of you does not know how to act wisely in order to endure difficulties/trials well, he should ask God to show him what he should do, because God wholeheartedly/gladly helps all people who ask and does not scold anyone for asking. Those who ask, God will give them wisdom to know what they should do.

LEB Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it from God, who gives to all without reservation and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

NRSV If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.

NKJV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

NAB But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.

BBE But if any man among you is without wisdom, let him make his request to God, who gives freely to all without an unkind word, and it will be given to him.

Moff Whoever of you is defective in wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all men without question or reproach, and the gift will be his.

Wymth And if any one of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives with open hand to all men, and without upbraiding; and it will be given him.

ASV But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

DRA But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men abundantly, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

YLT and if any of you do lack wisdom, let him ask from God, who is giving to all liberally, and not reproaching, and it shall be given to him;

Drby But if any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of [fn]God, who gives to all freely and reproaches not, and it shall be given to him:

1.5 Elohim

RV But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
(But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth/gives to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. )

SLT If any of you is forsaken of wisdom, let him ask of God, giving to all plainly, blaming not; and it shall be given him.

Wbstr If any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given to him.

KJB-1769 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
(If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth/gives to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. )

KJB-1611 If any of you lacke wisedome, let him aske of God, that giueth to all men liberally, and vpbraideth not: and it shalbe giuen him.
(If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth/gives to all men liberally, and upbraideth not: and it shall be given him.)

Bshps If any of you lacke wisdome, let him aske of God, that geueth to all men indifferentlie, and casteth no man in the teeth: and it shalbe geuen hym.
(If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth/gives to all men indifferentlie, and casteth/casts/throws no man in the teeth: and it shall be given him.)

Gnva If any of you lacke wisedome, let him aske of God, which giueth to all men liberally, and reprocheth no man, and it shalbe giuen him.
(If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, which giveth/gives to all men liberally, and reproacheth/reproaches no man, and it shall be given him. )

Cvdl Yf eny of you lacke wyssdome, let him axe of God, which geueth to all men indifferentlie, and casteth no man in the teth: and it shal be geue him.
(If any of you lack wisdom, let him axe of God, which giveth/gives to all men indifferentlie, and casteth/casts/throws no man in the teth: and it shall be give him.)

TNT Yf eny of you lacke wysdome let him axe of God which geveth to all men indifferentlie and casteth no man in the teth: and it shal be geven him.
(If any of you lack wisdom let him axe of God which geveth to all men indifferentlie and casteth/casts/throws no man in the teth: and it shall be given him. )

Wycl And if ony of you nedith wisdom, axe he of God, which yyueth to alle men largeli, and vpbreidith not; and it schal be youun to hym.
(And if any of you needeth/needs wisdom, axe he of God, which giveth/gives to all men largeli, and upbreidith not; and it shall be given to him.)

Luth So aber jemand unter euch Weisheit mangelt, der bitte von GOtt, der da gibt einfältiglich jedermann und rücket es niemand auf; so wird sie ihm gegeben werden.
(So but someone under you wise_(people) lacking, the/of_the please from God, the/of_the there gives einfältiglich anyone and rücket it no_one on/in/to; so becomes they/she/them him given become.)

ClVg Si quis autem vestrum indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat: et dabitur ei.
(When/But_if who/any however of_you needs wisdom, postulet from to_God, who/which gives to_all affluenter, and not/no improperat: and will_be_given to_him. )

UGNT εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος, Θεοῦ, πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς, καὶ μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος, καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.
(ei de tis humōn leipetai sofias, aiteitō para tou didontos, Theou, pasin haplōs, kai maʸ oneidizontos, kai dothaʸsetai autōi.)

SBL-GNT Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς καὶ ⸀μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος, καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ·
(Ei de tis humōn leipetai sofias, aiteitō para tou didontos theou pasin haplōs kai ⸀maʸ oneidizontos, kai dothaʸsetai autōi;)

RP-GNT Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς, καὶ οὐκ ὀνειδίζοντος, καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.
(Ei de tis humōn leipetai sofias, aiteitō para tou didontos theou pasin haplōs, kai ouk oneidizontos, kai dothaʸsetai autōi.)

TC-GNT Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος Θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς, καὶ [fn]οὐκ ὀνειδίζοντος, καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.
(Ei de tis humōn leipetai sofias, aiteitō para tou didontos Theou pasin haplōs, kai ouk oneidizontos, kai dothaʸsetai autōi. )

1:5 ουκ 69.9% ¦ μη CT TR 29.9%

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:2–11: James encouraged believers to continue to trust God during times of testing

The theme of this section is that it is important for Christians to continue to trust God when going through various kinds of trials or difficulties. These trials are a test of their faith (1:2–4). They need God’s wisdom in order to remain faithful to him, and so they should pray for wisdom (1:5). When they come to God in prayer, they should have an attitude of firm trust in him (1:6–8). Both poverty and wealth test a Christian. They should trust God whether rich or poor and learn to think about poverty and wealth as God does (1:9–11).

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Have faith and wisdom

When you have trials/tests, you must trust God

Be joyful when your faith is tested

Paragraph 1:5–8

In this paragraph, James encouraged his readers to ask God to make them wise. They needed wisdom from God to know what to do while experiencing trials that test their faith. God will answer this prayer if they fully trust God when they pray. But if they do not fully trust him or if they have divided loyalty, God will not answer their prayers.

1:5a

Now if any of you lacks wisdom,

¶ If any of you^(plur) does not have wisdom,
¶ Anyone who is not wise

Now if any of you lacks wisdom: This clause is in the form of an “if” statement, but James was not wondering if anyone lacked wisdom. He knew that all his readers needed wisdom in order to be successful in enduring trials (1:2).

If a literal translation of if would make your readers think that James did not know if anyone needed wisdom, you could say:

Those of you who need wisdom

He who does not have wisdom

lacks: The word lacks here indicates that a person does not have wisdom or does not have enough wisdom. He also realizes that he does not have it.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

do not have

need (CEV)

wisdom: The Greek word that the BSB translates as wisdom refers to understanding what is right and good, and doing it. A person who has wisdom is one who chooses to behave the way God wants. He acts wisely. When he is tempted to behave in the wrong way, he resists.

In some languages, it may be necessary to translate this word as an adjective. For example:

If any of you is not wise enough

If any of you needs to become a wiser person

If any of you needs understanding to do what is right and good

1:5b

he should ask God,

you^(plur) should ask God to give you some.
should ask God to make him wise, and God will help/teach him.

he should ask God: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as he should ask is a command addressed to the person who needs wisdom. In order to obtain wisdom, a person must ask for it.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

let him ask God (RSV)

must ask God (NJB)

he: The pronoun he refers to any person who lacks wisdom. This is the person whom James referred to in 1:5a. Depending on how you have translated 1:5a, it may be necessary to use the pronoun “you” “we^(incl)” or “they” rather than “he.” For example:

you should ask God (CEV)

they should ask God

we ^(incl) should request God

1:5c

who gives generously to all without finding fault,

God gives abundantly to everyone without blaming them.
For God is generous. He gives what we^(incl) need to anyone asking for it. He does not criticize/reproach anyone for asking.

There are several ways to connect 1:5c to the rest of 1:5. See the General Comment on 1:5a–d at the end of 1:5d for some examples.

who gives generously to all without finding fault: This clauseThe NIV and other English versions translate this Greek participial phrase as a descriptive (or non-restrictive) relative clause. describes the character of God. He generously gives good gifts to people, and he does not criticize them for asking. James said this to encourage people to ask for wisdom.

In some languages, it will be natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

For God gives generously to all without finding fault.

It may be natural to begin a new sentence here because:

1:5a–d is a long sentence in both the Greek and the BSB, and it may be natural in your language to divide it into several shorter sentences.
a clause beginning with the word “who” might imply that one God gives generously and another God does not give generously.

gives generously: The Greek word that the BSB translates as generously means that God gives “without hesitation,” “freely,” and “unconditionally.”

Some other ways to translate this word are:

gives without reserve

gives bountifully

If your language needs to say what God gives, you can say:

generously gives good things

abundantly gives what we need

to all: The word all here refers to all people.

without finding fault: The phrase that the BSB translates as without finding fault means “does not criticize, reproach, or blame.” God does not criticize those who ask him for wisdom, because he is pleased that they have come to him for help.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

without scolding (NJB)

He will not resent your asking. (NLT96)

won’t correct you for asking (CEV)

He will not reprimand/criticize you when you ask

1:5d

and it will be given to him.

So if you^(plur) ask for wisdom, it will be given to you.
(1:5d was placed above at the end of the second meaning line in 1:5b)

it will be given to him: The word it refers to wisdom. The verb will be given is passive. God is the one who gives wisdom. So there are at least two ways to translate this phrase:

Use a passive verb. For example:
wisdom will be given/granted him
Use an active verb. For example:
he will give you wisdom (NCV)
God will cause him to become wise.

In some languages, “wisdom” is not something that “is given.” Some other ways to translate the word given are:

God will teach him to be wise

God will help him to be wise

General Comment on 1:5a–d

One of the challenges in translating 1:5 is to decide how to connect the “who” clause in 1:5c to the rest of the verse. Some possibilities are:

Follow the Greek order, but begin a new sentence. For example:
^5aNow if any of you lacks wisdom, ^5bhe should ask God for it. ^5cGod gives generously to all without finding fault. ^5dSo if he asks for wisdom it will be given to him.
Put 1:5c first. For example:
^5cGod gives generously to all without finding fault. ^5aSo, if you lack wisdom, ^5byou should ask God for some, ^5dand he will give it to you.
Put 1:5c last. For example:
^5aIf any of you need wisdom, ^5byou should ask God, ^5dand it will be given to you. ^5cGod is generous and won’t correct you for asking. (CEV)