Do Not Boast about Tomorrow (James 4:13–17)
1 UEB Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. BSB BSB: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 UEB Let someone else 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 UEB Consider the heaviness of a stone and the weight of sand— the provocation of a fool is heavier than both. BSB BSB: A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
4 UEB There is the cruelty of rage and the flood of anger, 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 UEB Better is an open rebuke than hidden love. BSB BSB: Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 UEB Faithful are the wounds caused by a friend, but an enemy may kiss you profusely. BSB BSB: The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 UEB A person who has eaten to the full rejects even a honeycomb, but to the hungry person, 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 UEB Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who strays from where he lives. BSB BSB: Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.
9 UEB Perfume and incense make the heart rejoice, but the sweetness of a friend comes from his sincere counsel. BSB BSB: Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.
10 UEB Do not forsake your friend and your friend's father, and do not go to your brother's house on the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is nearby than a brother who is 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 UEB Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice; then I will give back an answer to the one who mocks me. BSB BSB: Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.
12 UEB A prudent man sees trouble and hides himself, but the naive people go on and suffer because of it. BSB BSB: The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
13 UEB Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman. BSB BSB: Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
14 UEB Whoever gives his neighbor a blessing with a loud voice early in the morning, that blessing will be considered to be 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 UEB A quarreling wife is like the constant dripping on a rainy day; BSB BSB: A constant dripping on a rainy day and a contentious woman are alike—
16 UEB restraining her is like restraining the wind, or trying to catch oil in your right hand. BSB BSB: restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 UEB Iron sharpens iron; in the same way, a man sharpens his friend. BSB BSB: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 UEB The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and the one who protects his master will be honored. BSB BSB: Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 UEB Just as water reflects a person's face, so a person's heart reflects the person. BSB BSB: As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the true man.
20 UEB Just as Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, so a man's eyes are never satisfied. BSB BSB: Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 UEB A crucible is for silver and a furnace is for gold; and a person is tested when he is praised. BSB BSB: A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 UEB Even if you crush a fool with the pestle—along with the grain— yet his foolishness will not leave him. BSB BSB: Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
23 UEB Be sure you know the condition of your flocks and be concerned about your herds, BSB BSB: Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 UEB for wealth is not forever. Does a crown endure for all generations? BSB BSB: for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 UEB You should know when the hay is gone and the new growth appears, and the time when the grass from the hills is gathered in. BSB BSB: When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered,
26 UEB Those lambs will provide your clothing and the goats will provide the price of the field. BSB BSB: the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 UEB There will be goats' milk for your food—the food for your household— and nourishment for your servant girls. 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.