Do Not Boast about Tomorrow (James 4:13–17)
1 DBY Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day will bring forth. BSB BSB: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 DBY Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. BSB BSB: Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 DBY A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's vexation 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 DBY Fury is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy? BSB BSB: Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 DBY Open rebuke is better than hidden love. BSB BSB: Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 DBY Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are profuse. BSB BSB: The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 DBY The full soul trampleth on a 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 DBY As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place. BSB BSB: Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
9 DBY Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; and the sweetness of one's friend is the fruit of hearty counsel. BSB BSB: Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.
10 DBY Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: better is a neighbour 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 DBY Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me. BSB BSB: Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12 DBY A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; 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 DBY Take his garment that is become surety for another, and hold him in pledge 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 DBY He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be reckoned 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 DBY A continual dropping on 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 DBY whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil. BSB BSB: restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 DBY Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. BSB BSB: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 DBY Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that guardeth his master shall be honoured. BSB BSB: Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 DBY As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. BSB BSB: As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
20 DBY Sheol and destruction are insatiable; 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 DBY The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; so let a man be to the mouth that praiseth him. BSB BSB: A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 DBY If thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his folly 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 DBY Be well acquainted with the appearance of thy flocks; look well to thy herds: BSB BSB: Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 DBY for wealth is not for ever; and doth the crown endure from generation to generation? BSB BSB: for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 DBY The hay is removed, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered in. BSB BSB: When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered,
26 DBY The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of a field; BSB BSB: the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 DBY and there is goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and sustenance for thy maidens. BSB BSB: You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you—food for your household and nourishment for your maidservants.
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