Do Not Boast about Tomorrow (James 4:13–17)
1 UDB Do not boast about what will happen tomorrow, because you do not know what will come to you during that day. BSB BSB: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 UDB Do not praise yourself; let someone else praise you. It is better for someone you do not know to praise you than for you to praise yourself. BSB BSB: Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 UDB If you think about how heavy a stone can be, or how much sand can weigh— then you will understand that the trouble a fool causes is harder to carry than both of those things. BSB BSB: A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
4 UDB If you think about how cruel can be people who rage at others, and how angry people can attack others like a flood of water, then think about how jealous people are even worse; no one can resist being harmed by a jealous person. BSB BSB: Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 UDB It is better to offer a rebuke out in the open than to have a love that is hidden. BSB BSB: Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 UDB A wound from a friend is better than kisses from an enemy. BSB BSB: The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 UDB When a person is walking along and he has a full stomach, he may step on a honeycomb because he is not hungry; but if he were very hungry, even bitter things would taste sweet to him. BSB BSB: The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 UDB When a man wanders away from his home, he is acting like a bird that stays far from its nest. BSB BSB: Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
9 UDB The aroma of perfume and the scent of incense can help to make a person feel happy, and we most appreciate friends who give us good advice. BSB BSB: Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.
10 UDB Do not forget your friend or a friend of your father; and when you have a problem and you need help, do not go to your brother's home. When there is trouble, a neighbor who lives close by is better than a brother who lives far away. 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 UDB My son, if you become wise, you will make me happy; so I will be able to give an answer to anyone who argues against me. BSB BSB: Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12 UDB One who has good sense takes cover when he sees trouble coming, but those who have no experience or knowledge rush ahead into danger. BSB BSB: The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 UDB Take a man's garment as security when he is guaranteeing a loan for a stranger. Hold the garment in pledge to protect yourself from losing your money when he puts up security for an adulteress. BSB BSB: Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
14 UDB Whoever shouts out a blessing in a loud voice early in the morning, that blessing will be heard as if it were a curse. 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 UDB A wife who continually argues with her husband is as annoying as the constant dripping of water on a rainy day, BSB BSB: A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
16 UDB and stopping her from arguing would be as difficult as restraining the wind or trying to catch oil in one hand. BSB BSB: restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 UDB Iron is used to sharpen an iron blade, just like a man makes his friend better. BSB BSB: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 UDB The farmer who takes care of a fig tree will enjoy its fruit when it is ripe. This is just like the one who protects his master; he will get honor from his master. BSB BSB: Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 UDB When a person looks in the water, he sees his own face; similarly, when we look at what a person loves, we know what he is like deep inside. BSB BSB: As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
20 UDB You know that the Place of the Dead and The Destroyer are never satisfied, and people are also never satisfied and always want more. BSB BSB: Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 UDB Silver is refined in a crucible and gold is put into a furnace to be made pure, and how a person responds to the praise given to him will tell you what kind of person he is. BSB BSB: A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 UDB Though you grind a fool as if you were grinding up grain, you will not be able to take his foolishness out of him. BSB BSB: Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
23 UDB A good shepherd will know the condition of all his sheep and he will check on them every day. BSB BSB: Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 UDB Wealth does not last forever. Does the crown of a king endure for all generations? BSB BSB: for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 UDB The grass dies out and then the new growth starts to grow, and on the mountains food for the cattle is stacked up in the barns. BSB BSB: When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered,
26 UDB The lambs will give you warm clothing and the goats will give you enough to pay for the cost of the field. BSB BSB: the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 UDB There will be milk from the goats that you can drink—that will be food for everyone who lives in your house— and it is food to feed your servant girls as well. 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.