YAC 4:14 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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, red:negative.
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 You who do not know the thing of the tomorrow, of what sort is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears.

UST You should not talk like that, because you do not know what will happen tomorrow. In fact, you do not even know how long you will live! After all, your life is short, like a mist that is visible briefly but then vanishes.

BSB 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.

BLB who know not what is on the next day. What is your life? It is just a vapor, appearing for a little while, and then vanishing.

AICNT [[for]][fn] you who do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? {It is}[fn] a vapor that appears for a little while [[but]][fn] also disappearing.

4:14, for: Some manuscripts include. A(02) BYZ TR

4:14, it is: Later manuscripts read “it will be.” BYZ TR

4:14, but: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

OEB 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.

WEBBE Yet you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes.

LSV who does not know the thing of tomorrow; for what is your life? For it is a vapor that is appearing for a little [while], and then is vanishing;

FBV You have no idea what will happen tomorrow! What's your life like? It's just a mist that appears for a little while, and then is gone.

TCNT You do not know [fn]what will happen tomorrow. What is [fn]your life? [fn]It is a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

4:14 what will happen ¦ about WH

4:14 your ¦ our PCK

4:14 It is ¦ You are CT {Note: The main Greek text literally reads It will be.}

T4T You should not talk like that, because you do not know what will happen tomorrow, and you do not know how long you will live! Your life is short [MET], like a mist that appears for a short time and then disappears.

LEB you who do not know _⌊what will happen tomorrow_⌋[fn], _⌊what your life will be like_⌋[fn]. For you are a smoky vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears.

4:14 Literally “the circumstance of tomorrow”

4:14 Literally “of what sort your life”

BBE When you are not certain what will take place tomorrow. What is your life? It is a mist, which is seen for a little time and then is gone.

Moff you who know nothing about to-morrow! For what is your life? You are but a mist, which appears for a little and then vanishes.

Wymth when, all the while, you do not even know what will happen to-morrow. For what is the nature of your life? Why, it is but a mist, which appears for a short time and then is seen no more.

ASV whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

DRA Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow.

YLT who do not know the thing of the morrow; for what is your life? for it is a vapour that is appearing for a little, and then is vanishing;

Drby ye who do not know what will be on the morrow, ([for] what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, appearing for a little while, and then disappearing,)

RV whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
(whereas ye/you_all know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye/you_all are a vapour, that appeareth/appears for a little time, and then vanisheth away. )

SLT (Which know not that of the morrow. For what your life? For it is a steam, appearing for a little, and then invisible.)

Wbstr Whereas ye know not what will be on the morrow: For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

KJB-1769 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.
(Whereas ye/you_all know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth/appears for a little time, and then vanisheth away. )

KJB-1611 Whereas yee know not what shalbe on the morow: for what is your life? [fn]It is euen a vapour that appeareth for a litle time, and then vanisheth away.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

4:14 Or, for it is.

Bshps And yet can not ye tel what shall happen on the morowe. For what thyng is your lyfe? It is euen a vapour, that appeareth for a litle tyme, and then he vanisheth away.
(And yet cannot ye/you_all tell what shall happen on the morrow. For what thing is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth/appears for a little time, and then he vanisheth away.)

Gnva (And yet ye cannot tell what shalbe to morowe. For what is your life? It is euen a vapour that appeareth for a litle time, and afterward vanisheth away)
((And yet ye/you_all cannot tell what shall be to morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth/appears for a little time, and afterward vanisheth away) )

Cvdl & yet ca not tell what shal happe to morowe. For what thinge is youre life? It is euen a vapoure that apereth for a lytell tyme, and the vanysheth awaye:
(and yet can not tell what shall happen to morrow. For what thing is your(pl) life? It is even a vapour that apereth for a little time, and the vanysheth away:)

TNT and yet can not tell what shall happen to morowe. For what thynge is youre lyfe? It is even a vapoure that apereth for a lytell tyme and the vanyssheth awaye:
(and yet cannot tell what shall happen to morrow. For what thing is your(pl) life? It is even a vapour that apereth for a little time and the vanyssheth away: )

Wycl whiche witen not, what is to you in the morewe.
(which perceive not, what is to you in the morning.)

Luth die ihr nicht wisset, was morgen sein wird. Denn was ist euer Leben? Ein Dampf ist‘s, der eine kleine Zeit währet, danach aber verschwindet er.
(the you(pl)/their/her not know, what/which morning be becomes. Because what/which is your(pl) life? A Dampf it_is, the/of_the a/one small time/period lasts, after/thereafter/then but disappears/vanishes he.)

ClVg qui ignoratis quid erit in crastino.
(who/which you(pl)_do_not_know what will_be in/into/on tomorrowtino. )

UGNT οἵτινες οὐκ ἐπίστασθε τὸ τῆς αὔριον, ποία ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν? ἀτμὶς γάρ ἐστε, ἡ πρὸς ὀλίγον φαινομένη, ἔπειτα καὶ ἀφανιζομένη.
(hoitines ouk epistasthe to taʸs aurion, poia haʸ zōaʸ humōn? atmis gar este, haʸ pros oligon fainomenaʸ, epeita kai afanizomenaʸ.)

SBL-GNT οἵτινες οὐκ ἐπίστασθε ⸀τὸ τῆς αὔριον ⸀ποία ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν· ἀτμὶς γάρ ⸀ἐστε ⸀ἡ πρὸς ὀλίγον φαινομένη, ⸀ἔπειτα καὶ ἀφανιζομένη·
(hoitines ouk epistasthe ⸀to taʸs aurion ⸀poia haʸ zōaʸ humōn; atmis gar ⸀este ⸀haʸ pros oligon fainomenaʸ, ⸀epeita kai afanizomenaʸ;)

RP-GNT οἵτινες οὐκ ἐπίστασθε τὸ τῆς αὔριον. Ποία γὰρ ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν; Ἀτμὶς γὰρ ἔσται ἡ πρὸς ὀλίγον φαινομένη, ἔπειτα δὲ καὶ ἀφανιζομένη.
(hoitines ouk epistasthe to taʸs aurion. Poia gar haʸ zōaʸ humōn; Atmis gar estai haʸ pros oligon fainomenaʸ, epeita de kai afanizomenaʸ.)

TC-GNT οἵτινες οὐκ ἐπίστασθε [fn]τὸ τῆς αὔριον. Ποία [fn]γὰρ ἡ ζωὴ [fn]ὑμῶν; Ἀτμὶς γὰρ [fn]ἔσται [fn]ἡ πρὸς ὀλίγον φαινομένη, ἔπειτα [fn]δὲ καὶ ἀφανιζομένη.
(hoitines ouk epistasthe to taʸs aurion. Poia gar haʸ zōaʸ humōn; Atmis gar estai haʸ pros oligon fainomenaʸ, epeita de kai afanizomenaʸ. )

4:14 το ¦ τα ECM^† ¦ — WH

4:14 γαρ ¦ — CT

4:14 υμων ¦ ημων PCK

4:14 εσται ¦ εστιν 𝔐^pt PCK TR ¦ εστε CT

4:14 η ¦ — WH

4:14 δε και ¦ δε TR ¦ και CT ¦ — PCK

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:13–17: Trust in the Lord and not in yourselves

In this section, James rebuked the merchants who made plans to get rich but did not think about God. It is not clear whether or not the people whom James was denouncing belonged to the Christian community. It may be that among the Jewish traders of the time there were some who claimed to follow Christ but were not living as they should. On the other hand, there were no doubt many rich traders and merchants outside the church (see the references to “the rich” in 2:6–7), and James’ words would have served as a warning to Christians not to desire to follow their example.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Don’t Brag About Your Plans for the Future (GW)

Warning against Boasting (GNT)

Paragraph 4:13–17

James described the way traders made plans to get rich (4:13). Then he explained that those who think like that are ignoring God (4:14). He told them that instead they ought to submit to the Lord’s will (4:15). He reminded them that their behavior was arrogant (4:16) and warned them that God considered it sinful (4:17).

4:14a–b

You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life?: There are two ways to punctuate 4:14a–b. Consequently, there are two ways to interpret the clause that the BSB translates as What is your life. They are:

It is a rhetorical question and goes with what follows in 4:14c–e. According to this interpretation, James was emphasizing the shortness of life.Ropes, page 278; Hiebert, page 276; Laws, page 191; Moo (1985), page 155. In addition, some other modern editions of the Greek text (Tischendorf, von Soden, Vogels, Merk, and Bover), versions (KJV, LB, JBP) and commentators (Alford, page 319; Huther, page 194; Mayor, page 145; Adamson (1976), page 179) follow a different manuscript reading where the word γάρ is inserted, thus ensuring that (1) is inevitably followed. For example, the NET says:
You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? (BSB, RSV, NIV, REB, KJV, NET, GW, NLT96, NCV, ESV, CEV, JBP)
It is a statement and goes with what precedes in 4:14a. According to this interpretation, James was emphasizing that the traders were ignorant of what their life would be like tomorrow.Martin, page 158. For example, the GNT says:
You don’t even know what your life tomorrow will be! (GNT, NASB, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). This is followed by the majority of commentators and English versions. James’ point is not about what your life will be like tomorrow, but whether you will be alive at all. This is clear from 4:15.

4:14a

You do not even know what will happen tomorrow!

However, you^(plur) do not know what events will happen/occur tomorrow!
But do you^(plur) even know what will happen tomorrow? Of course not!

There is a contrast between 4:13 and 4:14. The contrast is between the rich people’s plans, and the fact that they do not know what will happen the next day. Some ways to show this contrast are:

But (NCV)

You talk like that, however

You do not even know what will happen tomorrow!: The BSB uses even as a way of communicating the exclamation in English. The NIV tries to show this exclamation and the contrast mentioned above by using the word “Why.”

Some ways to translate this sentence are:

As an exclamation. For example:
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. (NIV)
But you do not know what will happen tomorrow! (NCV)
You have no idea/clue what will happen tomorrow!
As a rhetorical question that emphasizes that we do not know what will happen tomorrow. For example:
But do you even know what will happen tomorrow? Of course not!
What do you know about tomorrow? (CEV)

4:14b

What is your life?

What is your^(plur) life like?
Think about your^(plur) life!
You^(plur) live

What is your life?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes how uncertain life is. James responded to his own rhetorical question in the next sentence.

Some ways to translate this rhetorical question are:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
What is your life after all? (REB)
Do you know how long you will live?
To what can your life be compared?
As a statement. For example:
Think about your life.
Consider the time you have to live.
As a phrase connected to and introducing 4:14c. For example:
Your life is…. (NCV)
The time you live is like

Translate this rhetorical question in a way that is natural in your language.

4:14c–e

Most English versions use no connecting word at the beginning of this sentence. In Greek, there is a connector showing that this sentence explains the reason why life is uncertain. The RSV translates the Greek conjunction as “For.” Use a natural way of connecting this sentence to the question that came before it.

You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes: This is a metaphor. In this metaphor, James compared a person’s life to a mist. The way that they are similar is that both exist for only a short time.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears. (CEV)
Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:
For your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. (NLT96)
Translate the meaning without using the metaphor. For example:
You live for a brief while and then pass away.

4:14c

You are a mist

You^(plur) are like a puff of smoke
It is very brief like steam
for only

You are: The words You are introduce an answer to the question “What is your life?” In some languages, it may be necessary to say “Your life is….” For example:

your life is like (NLT)

a mist: The Greek word that the BSB translates as a mist means “a vapor or smoke that goes into the air.” Some other ways to translate this word are:

puff of smoke (NET)

morning fog (NLT)

steam

4:14d

that appears for a little while

that is here only a short time.
that is seen for a moment (GW)
a brief time.

appears for a little while: The Greek word that the BSB translates as appears means “exists” or “is here.” Some other ways to translate this clause are:

it’s here a little while (NLT)

that is seen for a moment (GW)

You can see it for a short time (NCV)

4:14e

and then vanishes.

Then it disappears.
then goes away.
Then you^(plur) die.

and then vanishes: The Greek word that the BSB translates as vanishes also means “disappear.” Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

and then disappears (GNT)

then it goes away (NCV)

If you translate the meaning of 4:14c–e without using a metaphor, some ways to translate vanishes are:

and then you pass away

then it’s over

and then you die

Parallel YAC 4:14