Jam 4:13-16 | NETfull | STEP | Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”

James 4:13-16

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town ^{▼▼ Or “city.”} and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” 14 You ^{▼▼ Grk “who” (continuing the description of the people of v. 13). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.} do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? ^{▼▼ Or “you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.”} For you are a puff of smoke ^{▼▼ Or “a vapor.” The Greek word ἀτμίς (a) denotes a swirl of smoke arising from a fire (cf. Gen 19:28; Lev 16:13; Joel 2:30 [Acts 2:19]; Ezek 8:11).} that appears for a short time and then vanishes. 15 You ought to say instead, ^{▼▼ Grk “instead of your saying.”} “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.” 16 But as it is, ^{▼▼ Grk “but now.”} you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.