Do Not Boast about Tomorrow (James 4:13–17)
1 AKJV Boast not yourself of to morrow; for you know not what a day may bring forth. BSB BSB: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 AKJV Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. BSB BSB: Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 AKJV A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both. BSB BSB: A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
4 AKJV Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? BSB BSB: Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 AKJV Open rebuke is better than secret love. BSB BSB: Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 AKJV Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. BSB BSB: The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 AKJV The full soul loathes an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. BSB BSB: The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 AKJV As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man that wanders from his place. BSB BSB: Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
9 AKJV Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so does the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. BSB BSB: Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.
10 AKJV Your own friend, and your father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into your brother’s house in the day of your calamity: for better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off. BSB BSB: Do not forsake your friend or your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
11 AKJV My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproaches me. BSB BSB: Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12 AKJV A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. BSB BSB: The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 AKJV Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. BSB BSB: Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
14 AKJV He that blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. BSB BSB: If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
15 AKJV A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. BSB BSB: A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
16 AKJV Whoever hides her hides the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which denudes itself. BSB BSB: restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 AKJV Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. BSB BSB: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 AKJV Whoever keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waits on his master shall be honored. BSB BSB: Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 AKJV As in water face answers to face, so the heart of man to man. BSB BSB: As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
20 AKJV Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. BSB BSB: Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 AKJV As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. BSB BSB: A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 AKJV Though you should bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. BSB BSB: Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
23 AKJV Be you diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds. BSB BSB: Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 AKJV For riches are not for ever: and does the crown endure to every generation? BSB BSB: for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 AKJV The hay appears, and the tender grass shows itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. BSB BSB: When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered,
26 AKJV The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. BSB BSB: the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 AKJV And you shall have goats’ milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and for the maintenance for your maidens. BSB BSB: You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.