James 4:13
What does James 4:13 mean?
A plain-English look at James 4:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What James 4:13 means
James addresses businesspeople confidently mapping out travel, timelines, and profits as if the future were theirs to command. The issue is not planning itself but presumption—self-assured speech that leaves God out and treats gain as the goal. This mindset mirrors the world’s values: control, autonomy, and profit. James interrupts that swagger with a summons to remember God. To say “we will” without reference to the Lord is to forget who holds time and opportunity. Plans are proper when submitted to God’s will; they become worldly when they rest on self-confidence and chase gain without regard to His purposes or our limits.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Go 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 gain:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949How foolish it is to say, Today or tomorrow we will go into this town, and be there for a year and do business there and get wealth:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Go, now, ye who are saying, `To-day and to-morrow we will go on to such a city, and will pass there one year, and traffic, and make gain;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But who art thou that judgest thy neighbour? Behold, now you that say: To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city, and there we will spend a year and will traffic and make our gain.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Go to now, ye who say, To-day or to-morrow will we go into such a city and spend a year there, and traffic and make gain,
Context
A new section begins here, shifting from interpersonal sins to practical worldliness in daily affairs. Verse 13 sets up a common scenario of confident commercial planning. The following verses will puncture this certainty by highlighting human ignorance (v. 14), prescribing humble dependence—“If the Lord will” (v. 15)—and condemning arrogant boasting (v. 16). The section will end with a broad principle about sin by omission (v. 17), tying responsible action to known good.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 7:30
and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;
- Isaiah 24:2
And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him.
- Ecclesiastes 2:1
I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.
- Proverbs 27:1
Boast not thyself of to-morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
- Isaiah 56:11
Yea, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds that cannot understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.
- Luke 12:17
and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?
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