Do Not Judge a Brother

11 (A)Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother (B)and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one [a]Lawgiver, (C)who is able to save and to destroy. (D)Who[b] are you to judge [c]another?

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow [d]we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? (E)It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, (F)“If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. (G)All such boasting is evil.

17 Therefore, (H)to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

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Footnotes

  1. James 4:12 NU adds and Judge
  2. James 4:12 NU, M But who
  3. James 4:12 NU a neighbor
  4. James 4:13 M let us

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.(A) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[a] or judges them(B) speaks against the law(C) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,(D) but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,(E) the one who is able to save and destroy.(F) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?(G)

Boasting About Tomorrow

13 Now listen,(H) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”(I) 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.(J) 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,(K) we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.(L) 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. James 4:11 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.