Do Not Boast about Tomorrow (James 4:13–17)
1 CPDV Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what the future day may bring. BSB BSB: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 CPDV Let another praise you, and not your own mouth: an outsider, and not your own lips. BSB BSB: Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 CPDV A stone is weighty, and sand is burdensome; but the wrath of the foolish is heavier than both. BSB BSB: A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
4 CPDV Anger holds no mercy, nor does fury when it erupts. And who can bear the assault of one who has been provoked? BSB BSB: Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 CPDV An open rebuke is better than hidden love. BSB BSB: Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 CPDV The wounds of a loved one are better than the deceitful kisses of a hateful one. BSB BSB: The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 CPDV A sated soul will trample the honeycomb. And a hungry soul will accept even bitter in place of sweet. BSB BSB: The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 CPDV Just like a bird migrating from her nest, so also is a man who abandons his place. BSB BSB: Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
9 CPDV Ointment and various perfumes delight the heart. And the good advice of a friend is sweet to the soul. BSB BSB: Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.
10 CPDV Do not dismiss your friend or your father’s friend. And do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your affliction. A close neighbor is better than a distant brother. 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 CPDV My son, study wisdom, and rejoice my heart, so that you may be able to respond to the one who reproaches. BSB BSB: Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12 CPDV The discerning man, seeing evil, hides himself. The little ones, continuing on, sustain losses. BSB BSB: The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 CPDV Take away the garment of him who has vouched for an outsider. And take a pledge from him on behalf of foreigners. BSB BSB: Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
14 CPDV Whoever blesses his neighbor with a grand voice, rising in the night, shall be like one who curses. 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 CPDV A roof leaking on a cold day, and an argumentative woman, are comparable. BSB BSB: A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
16 CPDV He who would restrain her, he is like one who would grasp the wind, or who would gather together oil with his right hand. BSB BSB: restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 CPDV Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. BSB BSB: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 CPDV Whoever maintains the fig tree shall eat its fruit. And whoever is the keeper of his master shall be glorified. BSB BSB: Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 CPDV In the manner of faces looking into shining water, so are the hearts of men made manifest to the prudent. BSB BSB: As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
20 CPDV Hell and perdition are never filled; similarly the eyes of men are insatiable. BSB BSB: Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 CPDV In the manner of silver being tested in the refinery, and gold in the furnace, so also is a man tested by the mouth of one who praises. The heart of the iniquitous inquires after evils, but the heart of the righteous inquires after knowledge. BSB BSB: A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 CPDV Even if you were to crush the foolish with a mortar, as when a pestle strikes over pearled barley, his foolishness would not be taken 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 CPDV Be diligent to know the countenance of your cattle, and consider your own flocks, BSB BSB: Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 CPDV for you will not always hold this power. But a crown shall be awarded from generation to generation. BSB BSB: for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 CPDV The meadows are open, and the green plants have appeared, and the hay has been collected from the mountains. BSB BSB: When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered,
26 CPDV Lambs are for your clothing, and goats are for the price of a field. BSB BSB: the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 CPDV Let the milk of goats be sufficient for your food, and for the necessities of your household, and for the provisions of your handmaids. 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.