Jam 4:13-16 | NET2full | 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 ^{▼▼tn Or “city.”} and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” 14 You ^{▼▼tn 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? ^{▼▼tn Or “you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.”} For you are a puff of smoke ^{▼▼tn Or “a vapor.” The Greek word ἀτμίς (atmis) 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, ^{▼▼tn Grk “instead of your saying.”} “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.” 16 But as it is, ^{▼▼tn Grk “but now.”} you boast about your arrogant plans. ^{▼▼tn Or “you boast in your arrogance.” The translation in the text is based on two points: (1) The verb καυχάομαι (kauchaomai, “boast”) often uses the preposition ἐν (en) to indicate the focus of the boast (see BDAG 536 s.v. 1). (2) ἀλαζονεία (alazoneia, “arrogance”) here is plural and likely refers to the specific plans mentioned in v. 13.} All such boasting is evil.