James 4:12-14
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
12 There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save or to destroy. Who then are you to judge your neighbor?(A)
Warning Against Presumption.[a] 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit”— 14 you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow.[b] You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.(B)
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- 4:13–17 The uncertainty of life (Jas 4:14), its complete dependence on God, and the necessity of submitting to God’s will (Jas 4:15) all help one know and do what is right (Jas 4:17). To disregard this is to live in pride and arrogance (Jas 4:16); failure to do what is right is a sin (Jas 4:17).
- 4:14 Some important Greek manuscripts here have, “You who have no idea what tomorrow will bring. Why, what is your life?”
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