Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

James 4:13–17

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapterReport issue
More

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

5 selected · 12 available

Add or remove verses within this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

All 51 ranked passages are available for comparison.

From verse 13

  1. Proverbs 27:1Rank 1 from verse 13
    Open

    1BOAST not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

  2. Luke 12:17–20Rank 2 from verse 13
    Open

    17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

    18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

    19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

    20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

  3. Genesis 11:3–4Rank 3 from verse 13
    Open

    3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

    4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

  4. Ecclesiastes 2:1Rank 4 from verse 13
    Open

    1I SAID in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

  5. Ezekiel 7:12Rank 5 from verse 13
    Open

    12The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.

  6. Isaiah 24:2Rank 6 from verse 13
    Open

    2And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.

  7. Isaiah 56:11–12Rank 7 from verse 13
    Open

    11Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

    12Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.

  8. James 5:1Rank 8 from verse 13
    Open

    1GO to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

  9. 1 Corinthians 7:30Rank 9 from verse 13
    Open

    30And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

  10. Genesis 11:7Rank 10 from verse 13
    Open

    7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

  11. Isaiah 5:5Rank 11 from verse 13
    Open

    5And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

From verse 14

  1. 1 Peter 1:24Rank 1 from verse 14
    Open

    24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

  2. Psalms 39:5Rank 2 from verse 14
    Open

    5Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

  3. 1 John 2:17Rank 3 from verse 14
    Open

    17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

  4. Psalms 102:3Rank 4 from verse 14
    Open

    3For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

  5. Job 7:6–7Rank 5 from verse 14
    Open

    6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.

    7O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

  6. James 1:10Rank 6 from verse 14
    Open

    10But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

  7. Job 14:1–2Rank 7 from verse 14
    Open

    1MAN that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

    2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

  8. Job 9:25–26Rank 8 from verse 14
    Open

    25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

    26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

  9. Psalms 90:5–7Rank 9 from verse 14
    Open

    5Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

    6In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

    7For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

  10. Psalms 89:47Rank 10 from verse 14
    Open

    47Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

  11. 1 Peter 4:7Rank 11 from verse 14
    Open

    7But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

  12. Isaiah 38:12Rank 12 from verse 14
    Open

    12Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd’s tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

From verse 15

  1. Proverbs 19:21Rank 1 from verse 15
    Open

    21There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

  2. Hebrews 6:3Rank 2 from verse 15
    Open

    3And this will we do, if God permit.

  3. Lamentations 3:37Rank 3 from verse 15
    Open

    37¶ Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?

  4. Acts 18:21Rank 4 from verse 15
    Open

    21But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

  5. Romans 1:10Rank 5 from verse 15
    Open

    10Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

  6. 1 Corinthians 16:7Rank 6 from verse 15
    Open

    7For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

  7. Romans 15:32Rank 7 from verse 15
    Open

    32That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

  8. 1 Corinthians 4:19Rank 8 from verse 15
    Open

    19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

  9. 2 Samuel 15:25–26Rank 9 from verse 15
    Open

    25And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

    26But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

From verse 16

  1. Proverbs 27:1Rank 1 from verse 16
    Open

    1BOAST not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

  2. 1 Corinthians 5:6Rank 2 from verse 16
    Open

    6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

  3. Psalms 52:7Rank 3 from verse 16
    Open

    7Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.

  4. Proverbs 25:14Rank 4 from verse 16
    Open

    14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

  5. 1 Corinthians 4:7–8Rank 5 from verse 16
    Open

    7For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

    8Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

  6. Isaiah 47:10Rank 6 from verse 16
    Open

    10¶ For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.

  7. James 3:14Rank 7 from verse 16
    Open

    14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

  8. Psalms 52:1Rank 8 from verse 16
    Open

    1WHY boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.

  9. Revelation 18:7Rank 9 from verse 16
    Open

    7How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

  10. Isaiah 47:7–8Rank 10 from verse 16
    Open

    7¶ And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

    8Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:

From verse 17

  1. John 9:41Rank 1 from verse 17
    Open

    41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

  2. John 13:17Rank 2 from verse 17
    Open

    17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

  3. John 15:22Rank 3 from verse 17
    Open

    22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

  4. 2 Peter 2:21Rank 4 from verse 17
    Open

    21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

  5. Luke 12:47–48Rank 5 from verse 17
    Open

    47And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

    48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

  6. Romans 1:32Rank 6 from verse 17
    Open

    32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

  7. Romans 2:17–23Rank 7 from verse 17
    Open

    17Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

    18And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

    19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

    20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

    21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

    22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

    23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

  8. Romans 1:20–21Rank 8 from verse 17
    Open

    20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

    21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

  9. Romans 7:13Rank 9 from verse 17
    Open

    13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

James 4:13

COMBINED MEANING

go to now

↗

An expression calling attention and pressing the hearer to begin, consider, or face what follows; come now, attend, or take notice.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

day

↗

Sense 1: Light or the period of light between morning and evening, as distinguished from night. Sense 2: A complete daily cycle. Sense 3: A specified time, occasion, period, age, or season.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

morrow

↗

The next day or the time following the present day, and by extension a coming or future time.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sell

↗

1. To transfer for a price. 2. To betray or surrender into another's power.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

get

↗

To procure; to obtain; to gain possession of, by almost any means.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

gain

↗

Profit, increase, advantage, benefit, or what is acquired; to obtain, win, acquire, profit by, or bring a person to the truth or cause sought.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

James 4:14

COMBINED MEANING

whereas

↗

1. Considering that. 2. While or when in fact. 3. In contrast to the fact that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

know

↗

To perceive, understand, recognize, experience, or be assured of something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

on

↗

1. At, upon, or in contact with the named place, object, side, or time. 2. Toward, against, concerning, depending upon, or directed to the named person or thing. 3. Forward or continuing; in joined expressions such as go on, put on, and lay hold on, the other words supply the particular action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

morrow

↗

The next day or the time following the present day, and by extension a coming or future time.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

your

↗

The possessive form of ye or you, ordinarily plural, marking what belongs to, concerns, proceeds from, or stands in relation to the persons addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

even

↗

1. Used to emphasize, include, or precisely identify what is meant: indeed, precisely, or namely. 2. Used to mark a boundary, endpoint, or full reach in place, time, or degree: up to, as far as, or through. 3. In ‘even as,’ ‘even so,’ and like constructions, just as, exactly so, or in the same manner. 4. The evening, or close of day. 5. Equal, level, identical, balanced, or uniform.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

time

↗

A particular portion or part of duration, whether past, present or future.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

James 4:15

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Lord

↗

1. A title of God or Jesus Christ acknowledging authority and rule. 2. A respectful title or address for one in authority.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

live

↗

Sense 1: As a verb, to have or continue in life; to remain alive, be restored to life, or not die. Sense 2: To dwell, abide, or continue in a place, state, relation, or manner of life. Sense 3: To subsist or be sustained by or upon what is named. Sense 4: As an adjective, alive rather than dead; or containing fire and not extinguished.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

James 4:16

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

rejoice

↗

1. To be glad, take joy, delight, or exult; to express gladness. 2. To make glad or cause to rejoice.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

your

↗

The possessive form of ye or you, ordinarily plural, marking what belongs to, concerns, proceeds from, or stands in relation to the persons addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

James 4:17

COMBINED MEANING

good

↗

Sense 1: Right, morally upright, beneficial, pleasing, useful, suitable, sound, favourable, or excellent. Sense 2: A good thing, benefit, welfare, possession, or goods. Sense 3: In ‘make good,’ to repair, repay, fulfil, establish, or prove.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sin

↗

1. Wrongdoing against God and his law; transgression or unrighteousness. 2. The guilt or burden of such wrongdoing, or the inward principle so named. 3. As a verb, to commit such wrongdoing.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · James 4:13–17

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

4:13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

Selected passage

4:14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Selected passage

4:15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Selected passage

4:16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

Selected passage

4:17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Selected passage

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Ask a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.