James 4:11 nasb — Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the l…

NASB

"Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it."

— James 4:11, NASB

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James 4:11 in Other Translations

7 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”

  • ASV

    “Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. ”

  • WEB

    “Don't speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.”

  • NET

    “Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge.”

  • DRB

    “Detract not one another, my brethren. He that detracteth his brother, or he that judgeth his brother, detracteth the law and judgeth the law. But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”

  • BBE

    “Do not say evil against one another, my brothers. He who says evil against his brother or makes himself his brother's judge, says evil against the law and is judging the law: and in judging the law you become, not a doer of the law but a judge.”

  • KJVA

    “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”

James 4 — Context

8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

9

Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.

10

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

11

Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.

12

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

13

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."

14

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

James 4:11 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does James 4:11 say?
James 4:11 in the NASB reads: “Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.”
Where is James 4:11 in the Bible?
James 4:11 is found in the New Testament, in the book of James, chapter 4, verse 11.
Who wrote James?
James is traditionally attributed to James, half-brother of Jesus, leader of the Jerusalem church. It was written c. AD 44–49.
What is the book of James about?
James is the New Testament's closest cousin to Old-Testament wisdom literature — pungent, practical, and uncompromising. Faith without works is dead. The tongue is a fire. The prayers of a righteous man avail much. It calls Christians to walk their talk.
What are the major themes of James?
James explores themes including Faith and Works, Wisdom, Speech, Suffering, Prayer. These themes shape the meaning and context of James 4:11.
What translation should I read James 4:11 in?
James 4:11 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize James 4:11?
James 4:11 reads (NASB): “Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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