YAC 1:11 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) When the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass, the flowers will drop and lose all their beauty. So too for rich people who’ll fade away right in the middle of all their projects.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For the sun rose with the heat and dried up the grass, and its flower fell off and the beauty of its face perished. Thus also the rich will wither in his journeys.

UST A wildflower only lasts a short time because when the sun rises, its scorching heat dries out the plants so that their flowers fall off. They are no longer beautiful. Like the flower that dies, rich people will die while they are trying to make money.

BLB For the sun has risen with its burning heat and withered the grass, and its flower has fallen, and the beauty of its appearance has perished. Thus also the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

AICNT For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

OEB As the sun rises, and the hot wind blows, the plant withers, its flower fades, and all its beauty is gone. So it is with the rich. In the midst of their pursuits they will wither away.

WEBBE For the sun arises with the scorching wind and withers the grass; and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So the rich man will also fade away in his pursuits.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.

LSV for the sun rose with the burning heat, and withered the grass, and the flower of it fell, and the beauty of its appearance perished, so also the rich in his way will fade away!

FBV For the sun rises along with the blistering wind and scorches the grass. The flowers fall and their beauty is marred. Everything the rich achieve will fade in just the same way.

TCNT For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass, and its flower falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.

T4T When the sun rises, the scorching hot wind dries plants, and their flowers fall and are no longer beautiful. Similarly, rich people will die [MET] while they are busy working, leaving behind their riches.

LEB For the sun rises with its burning heat and dries up the grass, and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is lost. So also the rich person in his pursuits[fn] will wither away.

1:11 Or “on his (business) journeys”; or “in his ways”

BBE For when the sun comes up with its burning heat, the grass gets dry and the grace of its form is gone with the falling flower; so the man of wealth comes to nothing in his ways.

Moff up comes the sun with the scorching wind and withers the grass, its flower drops off, and the splendour of it is ruined: so shall the rich fade away amid their pursuits.

Wymth The sun rises with his scorching heat and dries up the herbage, so that its flowers drop off and the beauty of its appearance perishes, and in the same way rich men with all their prosperity will fade away.

ASV For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass; and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings.

DRA For the sun rose with a burning heat, and parched the grass, and the flower thereof fell off, and the beauty of the shape thereof perished: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

YLT for the sun did rise with the burning heat, and did wither the grass, and the flower of it fell, and the grace of its appearance did perish, so also the rich in his way shall fade away!

Drby For the sun has risen with its burning heat, and has withered the grass, and its flower has fallen, and the comeliness of its look has perished: thus the rich also shall wither in his goings.

RV For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass; and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings.
(For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth/withers the grass; and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings. )

SLT For the sun sprang up with heat, and dried up the grass, and its flower fell out, and the decorum of its face was destroyed: so also shall the rich be dried up in his goings.

Wbstr For the sun hath no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and its flower falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

KJB-1769 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
(For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth/withers the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. )

KJB-1611 For the Sunne is no sooner risen with a burning heate, but it withereth the grasse; and the flowre thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his wayes.
(For the Sun is no sooner risen with a burning heate, but it withereth/withers the grass; and the flour thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.)

Bshps For the sunne hath rysen with heate, and the grasse hath withered, and his flowre hath fallen away, & the beautie of the fashion of it hath perished: So also shall the ryche man fade away in his wayes.
(For the sun hath/has risen with heate, and the grass hath/has withered, and his flour hath/has fallen away, and the beauty of the fashion of it hath/has perished: So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.)

Gnva For as when the sunne riseth with heate, then the grasse withereth, and his flower falleth away, and the goodly shape of it perisheth: euen so shall the rich man wither away in all his waies.
(For as when the sun riseth/rises with heate, then the grass withereth/withers, and his flower falleth away, and the goodly shape of it perisheth: even so shall the rich man wither away in all his ways. )

Cvdl The Sonne ryseth wt heat and the grasse wydereth, & his floure falleth awaye, and the beautie of the fassion of it perissheth: euen so shal the ryche man perisshe with his abundaunce.
(The Son riseth/rises with heat and the grass widereth, and his flour falleth away, and the beauty of the fassion of it perissheth: even so shall the rich man perish with his abundance.)

TNT The sonne ryseth with heate and the grasse wydereth and his flower falleth awaye and the beautie of the fassion of it perissheth: even so shall the ryche man perisshe with his aboundance.
(The son riseth/rises with heat and the grass widereth and his flower falleth away and the beauty of the fassion of it perissheth: even so shall the rich man perish with his abundance. )

Wycl The sunne roos vp with heete, and driede the gras, and the flour of it felde doun, and the fairnesse of his chere perischide; and so a riche man welewith in hise weies.
(The sun rose up with heat, and dried the grass, and the flour of it field down, and the fairness of his cheer perished; and so a rich man welewith in his ways.)

Luth Die Sonne gehet auf mit der Hitze, und das Gras verwelket, und die Blume fällt ab und seine schöne Gestalt verdirbet; also wird der Reiche in seiner Habe verwelken.
(The sun goes on/in/to with the/of_the heat, and the grass withered, and the flower falls ab and his beautiful shape(n) verdirbet; also becomes the/of_the rich_(person) in his goods wilt.)

ClVg exortus est enim sol cum ardore, et arefecit fœnum, et flos ejus decidit, et decor vultus ejus deperiit: ita et dives in itineribus suis marcescet.[fn]
(risen it_is because the_sun when/with with_ardour/enthusiasm, and arefecit grass, and flower/blossom his decidit, and decor face his deperiit: so/thus and dives in/into/on itineribus to_his_own marcescet. )

1.11 Dives in itineribus. Viæ divitis temporalia sunt, quibus beatificari quærit, quæ cito destruentur. Ardor solis, adventus severi Judicis: vel in morte cujusque improvisus, vel in judicio communiter. In quo justus ut arbor fructifera manebit.

1.11 Dives in/into/on itineribus. Ways/Roads rich temporal_(things) are, to_whom happyficari seeks, which quickly they_will_destroyur. Ardor of_the_sun, arrivals severi Yudicis: or in/into/on death each_one improvisus, or in/into/on judgement communiter. In where just as arbor fruitful will_remain.

UGNT ἀνέτειλεν γὰρ ὁ ἥλιος σὺν τῷ καύσωνι, καὶ ἐξήρανεν τὸν χόρτον, καὶ τὸ ἄνθος αὐτοῦ ἐξέπεσεν, καὶ ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο. οὕτως καὶ ὁ πλούσιος ἐν ταῖς πορείαις αὐτοῦ μαρανθήσεται.
(aneteilen gar ho haʸlios sun tōi kausōni, kai exaʸranen ton ⱪorton, kai to anthos autou exepesen, kai haʸ euprepeia tou prosōpou autou apōleto. houtōs kai ho plousios en tais poreiais autou maranthaʸsetai.)

SBL-GNT ἀνέτειλεν γὰρ ὁ ἥλιος σὺν τῷ καύσωνι καὶ ἐξήρανεν τὸν χόρτον, καὶ τὸ ἄνθος αὐτοῦ ἐξέπεσεν καὶ ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο· οὕτως καὶ ὁ πλούσιος ἐν ταῖς πορείαις αὐτοῦ μαρανθήσεται.
(aneteilen gar ho haʸlios sun tōi kausōni kai exaʸranen ton ⱪorton, kai to anthos autou exepesen kai haʸ euprepeia tou prosōpou autou apōleto; houtōs kai ho plousios en tais poreiais autou maranthaʸsetai.)

RP-GNT Ἀνέτειλεν γὰρ ὁ ἥλιος σὺν τῷ καύσωνι, καὶ ἐξήρανεν τὸν χόρτον, καὶ τὸ ἄνθος αὐτοῦ ἐξέπεσεν, καὶ ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο· οὕτως καὶ ὁ πλούσιος ἐν ταῖς πορείαις αὐτοῦ μαρανθήσεται.
(Aneteilen gar ho haʸlios sun tōi kausōni, kai exaʸranen ton ⱪorton, kai to anthos autou exepesen, kai haʸ euprepeia tou prosōpou autou apōleto; houtōs kai ho plousios en tais poreiais autou maranthaʸsetai.)

TC-GNT Ἀνέτειλε γὰρ ὁ ἥλιος σὺν τῷ καύσωνι, καὶ ἐξήρανε τὸν χόρτον, καὶ τὸ ἄνθος αὐτοῦ ἐξέπεσε, καὶ ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο· οὕτω καὶ ὁ πλούσιος ἐν ταῖς πορείαις αὐτοῦ μαρανθήσεται.
(Aneteile gar ho haʸlios sun tōi kausōni, kai exaʸrane ton ⱪorton, kai to anthos autou exepese, kai haʸ euprepeia tou prosōpou autou apōleto; houtō kai ho plousios en tais poreiais autou maranthaʸsetai. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:2–11: James encouraged believers to continue to trust God during times of testing

The theme of this section is that it is important for Christians to continue to trust God when going through various kinds of trials or difficulties. These trials are a test of their faith (1:2–4). They need God’s wisdom in order to remain faithful to him, and so they should pray for wisdom (1:5). When they come to God in prayer, they should have an attitude of firm trust in him (1:6–8). Both poverty and wealth test a Christian. They should trust God whether rich or poor and learn to think about poverty and wealth as God does (1:9–11).

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Have faith and wisdom

When you have trials/tests, you must trust God

Be joyful when your faith is tested

Paragraph 1:9–11

Even if a Christian has a low position in society, he can rejoice. He can rejoice because, in God’s opinion, he is in a high position. Similarly, a Christian who is rich should have God’s opinion about himself. Although rich people are generally given high status because of their riches, rich Christians should rather value a low position and humble attitude. They should remember that our lives on earth are short and that riches will not last.

The theme of section 1:2–11 is that Christians should continue to trust God/Jesus when they have various kinds of tests/trials. Poverty is a kind of trial. It is also the result of the trial of being persecuted. Riches too may be a kind of test of faith. They test whether the Christian will trust God or his money. And for rich Christians who had lost wealth and status because of their faith in Christ, they should think of this in a positive way.

1:11a

For the sun rises with scorching heat

The sun rises with its terrible/great heat
As the sun rises and becomes very hot,

For: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as For introduces a more detailed explanation of what was said in 1:10b. Do not translate this verse as if it were the reason for 1:10b. It further explains 1:10b, but it is not a reason. Some English versions do not translate this conjunction.

the sun rises with scorching heat: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as scorching heat refers to heat that is so great that it causes plants to die.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

The sun rises with burning heat (NCV)

the sun becomes high and scorches

the sun becomes hot and burns

1:11b

and withers the plant;

and dries up the plant.
it wilts/shrivels the plants and kills them.

and withers: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as withers means “dries up.” In Israel, the rainy period ends early in the year. After that, there are no more clouds, and the sun is so hot that flowers dry up and die quickly.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

causes to dry up

causes to die

kills

the plant: The Greek word that the BSB translates as plant may refer to any plant with flowers on it.

1:11c

its flower falls

The blossom/flower falls to the ground,
Then their flowers fall/drop off,

its flower: The word flower refers to the flower of the plant.

falls: The Greek word that the BSB translates as falls refers to when a flower “drops” or “falls off” its stem to the ground. For example:

The flowers drop off (GW)

the plants lose their blossoms

1:11d

and its beauty is lost.

and its beauty is gone.
and they are no longer beautiful.

its beauty is lost: The phrase its beauty is lost means that “the plant’s beauty is gone.”

In some languages, it is not possible to talk about something abstract like beauty being lost. If that is true in your language, you may be able to use an adjective form and say:

It is no longer beautiful at all.

what was lovely to look at is lost for ever (REB)

is lost: This is a passive verb. It is the heat of the sun that destroys the beauty of the flowers. So there are at least two ways to translate this:

General Comment on 1:10b–11d

Use a passive verb. For example:
is destroyed (NASB)
Use an active verb. For example:
the heat destroys its beauty
the sun causes it to lose its beauty
Use an intransitive verb. For example:
its beauty is gone (NCV)
its beauty fades away (NLT)

James was talking about wild flowers in general, not one specific blossom or plant. So in some languages, it may be natural to use plural forms. For example:

^10b–11bRich people will disappear like wild flowers scorched by the burning heat of the sun. ^11cThe flowers lose their blossoms, ^11dand their beauty is destroyed. (CEV)

1:11e

So too, the rich man will fade away

In the same way, a rich brother/believer will also come to the end of his life
The same thing will happen to rich people. They will die

So too: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as So too introduces an explanation of how rich people will fade away like flowers.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

So also (NET)

The same thing will happen to (GW)

the rich man: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates here as the rich man is the same as the phrase translated “the one who is rich” in 1:10a. There it referred to the rich brother/believer. James was probably still thinking of the rich brother/believer, but what he says is true of all rich people. You can translate this either as “rich brother/believer” or as “rich man/person.”

This phrase does not refer to one specific rich man. It refers to all rich people. To make this clear, it may be best to translate this with a plural. For example:

rich people (GW)

will fade away: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as will fade away refers to a plant withering and dying. James used this verb to show how rich people will fade away like wild flowers. They will die and lose all the things that made people admire them, just as a flower loses its beauty when it dies. After that, people do not pay attention to them any longer.

If it is not natural in your language to talk about a person “fading,” you can say:

will die (NCV)

will end up being nothing

1:11f

in the midst of his pursuits.

while he is busy working.
as they are earning money.

in the midst of his pursuits: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as in the midst of his pursuits here means, “while he is doing his normal activities.” James was probably thinking of the rich man’s daily business activities such as trading.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

while they are still taking care of business (NCV)

while he is busy working

while he is earning money

General Comment on 1:11e–f

In some languages, it will be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in this verse. For example:

^11eIt will be the same with the rich person also. ^11fWhile he is busy at his work, ^11ehe will die.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-tense

ἀνέτειλεν γὰρ ὁ ἥλιος σὺν τῷ καύσωνι, καὶ ἐξήρανεν τὸν χόρτον, καὶ τὸ ἄνθος αὐτοῦ ἐξέπεσεν, καὶ ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο

rose (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀνέτειλεν Γάρ ὁ ἥλιος σύν τῷ καύσωνι καί ἐξήρανεν τόν χόρτον καί τό ἄνθος αὐτοῦ ἐξέπεσεν καί ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο Οὕτως καί ὁ πλούσιος ἐν ταῖς πορείαις αὐτοῦ μαρανθήσεται)

Here James is giving an illustration in the past tense as if he were telling the story of something that had happened. (See the discussion of this in Part 3 of the Introduction to James.) If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate this sentence with the present tense. Alternate translation: [For the sun rises with heat and dries up the grass, and its flower falls off and the beauty of its face perishes]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἀνέτειλεν Γάρ ὁ ἥλιος σύν τῷ καύσωνι καί ἐξήρανεν τόν χόρτον καί τό ἄνθος αὐτοῦ ἐξέπεσεν καί ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο Οὕτως καί ὁ πλούσιος ἐν ταῖς πορείαις αὐτοῦ μαρανθήσεται)

James uses For to introduce the reason for the result he implicitly described in the previous verse. Alternate translation: [This is because]

σὺν τῷ καύσωνι

Here, heat could mean one of two things. (1) It could refer to intense, withering heat. Alternate translation: [and radiated withering heat] or, if you are using the present tense, [and radiates withering heat] (2) It could refer to a hot wind that occurs in full sunlight. Alternate translation: [and caused a hot wind] or, if you are using the present tense, [and causes a hot wind]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο

the beauty ˱of˲_the appearance ˱of˲_it perished

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun beauty with an adjective such as “beautiful.” Alternate translation: [it no longer had a beautiful appearance]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο

the beauty ˱of˲_the appearance ˱of˲_it perished

James speaks of the wild flower as if it had a face. Alternate translation: [it no longer had a beautiful appearance]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο

the beauty ˱of˲_the appearance ˱of˲_it perished

James speaks of the flower’s beauty as if it perished or died. Alternate translation: [it no longer had a beautiful appearance]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

οὕτως καὶ

James uses the words Thus also to introduce a simile or comparison between a rich person and a fading flower. Alternate translation: [In the same way] or [Likewise]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

ὁ πλούσιος

the the rich_‹man›

James is using the adjective rich as a noun in order to indicate a type of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: [a person who is rich]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μαρανθήσεται

˓will_be_being˒_faded_away

James speaks of the rich person as if he were a flower that would wither. James means that this person will “die,” as UST indicates.

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν ταῖς πορείαις αὐτοῦ

among the pursuits ˱of˲_him

James speaks of a rich person’s activities as if they were a journey that he was taking. This metaphor implies that he is giving no thought to his coming death and that it will take him by surprise. Alternate translation: [in the midst of his activities]

Parallel YAC 1:11

Section 1:2–11: James encouraged believers to continue to trust God during times of testing

Paragraph 1:9–11

1:11a

1:11b

1:11c

1:11d

General Comment on 1:10b–11d

1:11e

1:11f

General Comment on 1:11e–f