James 4:14

yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow! For you are but a puff of smoke that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Open English Bible (US)

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

13Listen to me, you who say ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money,’

15Instead you should say ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’

Read all of James 4

Cross References

Psalms 89:47Remember, Lord, the shortness of life how fleeting you made all people.

Psalms 102:3For my days pass away like smoke: my bones are burned through as with fire.

James 1:10but a rich follower of their humiliation; for the rich will pass away like a wild flower.

1 Peter 4:7But the end of all things is near. Therefore exercise self-restraint and be calm, so that you may be able to pray.

Matthew Henry on James 4:12-17

Caution against Slander; Caution against Presumption. ( a. d. 61.) 11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 13 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… Read the whole commentary →

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