Do Not Boast about Tomorrow (James 4:13–17)
1 DRA Boast not for tomorrow, for thou knowest not what the day to come may bring forth. BSB BSB: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 DRA Let another praise thee, and not thy own mouth: a stranger, and not thy own lips. BSB BSB: Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 DRA A stone is heavy, and sand weighty: but the anger of a fool 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 DRA Anger hath no mercy, nor fury when it breaketh forth: and who can bear the violence of one provoked? BSB BSB: Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 DRA Open rebuke is better than hidden love. BSB BSB: Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 DRA Better are the wounds of a friend, than the deceitful kisses of an enemy. BSB BSB: The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 DRA A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb: and a soul that is hungry shall take even bitter for sweet. BSB BSB: The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 DRA As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that leaveth his place. BSB BSB: Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
9 DRA Ointment and perfumes rejoice the heart: and the good counsels of a friend are 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 DRA Thy own friend, and thy father’s friend forsake not: and go not into thy brother’s house in the day of thy affliction. Better is a neighbour that is near, than a brother afar 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 DRA Study wisdom, my son, and make my heart joyful, that thou mayst give an answer to him that reproacheth. BSB BSB: Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12 DRA The prudent man seeing evil hideth himself: little ones passing on have suffered losses. BSB BSB: The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 DRA Take away his garment that hath been surety for a stranger: and take from him a pledge for strangers. BSB BSB: Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
14 DRA He that blesseth his neighbour with a loud voice, rising in the night, shall be like to him that curseth. 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 DRA Roofs dropping through in a cold day, and a contentious woman are alike. BSB BSB: A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
16 DRA He that retaineth her, is as he that would hold the wind, and shall call in the oil of his right hand. BSB BSB: restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 DRA Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. BSB BSB: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 DRA He that keepeth the fig tree, shall eat the fruit thereof: and he that 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 DRA As the faces of them that look therein, shine in the water, so-the hearts of men are laid open to the wise. BSB BSB: As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
20 DRA Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are never satisfied. BSB BSB: Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 DRA As silver is tried in the fining-pot and gold in the furnace: so a man is tried by the mouth of him that praiseth. The heart of the wicked seeketh after evils, but the righteous heart seeketh after knowledge. BSB BSB: A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 DRA Though thou shouldst bray a fool in the mortar, as when a pestle striketh upon sodden barley, his folly 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 DRA Be diligent to know the countenance of thy cattle, and consider thy own flocks: BSB BSB: Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 DRA For thou shalt not always have power: but a crown shall be given to generation and generation. BSB BSB: for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 DRA The meadows are open, and the green herbs have appeared, and the hay is gathered out of the mountains. BSB BSB: When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered,
26 DRA Lambs are for thy clothing: and kids for the price of the field. BSB BSB: the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 DRA Let the milk of the goats be enough for thy food, and for the necessities of thy house, and for maintenance for thy handmaids. 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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