Do Not Boast about Tomorrow (James 4:13–17)
1 WBS Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. BSB BSB: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
2 WBS Let another man 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 WBS A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both. BSB BSB: A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
4 WBS Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? BSB BSB: Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 WBS Open rebuke is better than secret love. BSB BSB: Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
6 WBS Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. BSB BSB: The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 WBS The full soul lotheth a honey-comb; 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 WBS 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 WBS Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. BSB BSB: Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.
10 WBS Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbor 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 WBS My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may 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 WBS A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but 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 WBS Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him 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 WBS He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted 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 WBS A continual dropping in 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 WBS Whoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand which bewrayeth itself . BSB BSB: restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.
17 WBS Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. BSB BSB: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
18 WBS He that keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit of it: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored. BSB BSB: Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.
19 WBS 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 WBS Hell and destruction are never full; 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 WBS As the fining-pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.BSB BSB: A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.
22 WBS Though thou shouldst bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet his foolishness will not 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 WBS Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. BSB BSB: Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;
24 WBS For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? BSB BSB: for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation.
25 WBS The plant appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. BSB BSB: When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered,
26 WBS The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. BSB BSB: the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.
27 WBS And thou shalt have goats milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for maintenance 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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