James 4:14

New Living Translation

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it's here a little while, then it's gone.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
You don't know what will happen tomorrow. Your life is like a fog. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away.

Revised Standard Version
whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
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:

Hebrew Names Version
Whereas you don't know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

New American Standard Bible
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away.

New Century Version
But you do not know what will happen tomorrow! Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away.

Update Bible Version
whereas you don't know what shall be on the next day. What is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

English Standard Version
yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

World English Bible
Whereas you don't know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Who know not what shall be on the morrow; for what is your life? It is a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away:

Weymouth's New Testament
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.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
whiche witen not, what is to you in the morewe.

English Revised Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Contemporary English Version
What do you know about tomorrow? How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears.

Amplified Bible
Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air].

American Standard Version
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.

Bible in Basic English
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.

Complete Jewish Bible
You don't even know if you will be alive tomorrow! For all you are is a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears.

Darby Translation
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,)

International Standard Version
You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.Job 1:7:7; Psalm 102:3; James 1:10; 1 Peter 1:24; 1 John 2:17;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
and they know not what shall be on the morrow: for what is our life, but a vapour which for a little while is seen, and vanisheth and endeth ?

Murdock Translation
And they know not what will be to-morrow: for what is our life, but an exhalation that is seen a little while, and then vanisheth and is gone?

King James Version (1611)
Whereas yee know not what shalbe on the morow: for what is your life? It is euen a vapour that appeareth for a litle time, and then vanisheth away.

New Life Bible
You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? It is like fog. You see it and soon it is gone.

New Revised Standard
Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Geneva Bible (1587)
(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)

George Lamsa Translation
They do not know what will happen tomorrow! For what is our life? It is but a vapour, which appears for a little while, and then vanishes away.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Men who are not versed in the morrow - of what sort your life will be ; for ye are, a vapour - for a little, appearing, then, just disappearing!

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
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.

Good News Translation
You don't even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears.

Christian Standard Bible®
Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.

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.

Lexham English Bible
you who do not know what will happen tomorrow, what your life will be like. For you are a smoky vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears.

Literal Translation
who do not know of the morrow. For what is your life? For it is a mist, which for a little while appears, and then disappears.

Young's Literal Translation
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;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
& 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:

Mace New Testament (1729)
how do you know, what will happen to-morrow? for, "what is your life?" a vapour that just appears, and then vanishes.

New English Translation
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.

New King James Version
whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Simplified Cowboy Version
What do you know of tomorrow? You think so mighty of yourself that you can predict your own future? Cowboy, you ain't nothing more than smoke off a calf's branded hide. You are here for a second and then you're gone.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

Contextual Overview

¹¹ Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. ¹² God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor? ¹³ Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." ¹⁴ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it's here a little while, then it's gone. ¹⁵ What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." ¹⁶ Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

It is: or, For it is

a vapour: James 1:10, Job 7:6, Job 7:7, Job 9:25, Job 9:26, Job 14:1, Job 14:2, Psalms 39:5, Psalms 89:47, Psalms 90:5-7, Psalms 102:3, Isaiah 38:12, 1 Peter 1:24, 1 Peter 4:7, 1 John 2:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:2 - I know not Genesis 47:9 - an hundred Exodus 8:10 - To morrow Judges 19:9 - to morrow 2 Samuel 19:34 - How long have I to live 1 Kings 19:2 - to morrow 1 Kings 22:27 - until I come in peace 1 Chronicles 29:15 - our days Psalms 39:6 - a vain show Psalms 78:39 - a wind Psalms 90:10 - for Psalms 102:11 - My days Psalms 109:23 - gone Ecclesiastes 6:12 - the days of his vain life Ecclesiastes 8:13 - as a Ecclesiastes 10:14 - a man Ezekiel 28:5 - and by Luke 12:20 - Thou fool Acts 20:22 - not Acts 24:25 - when 1 Corinthians 7:31 - for

Cross-References

Genesis 4:5
but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

Genesis 4:6
"Why are you so angry?" the Lord asked Cain. "Why do you look so dejected?

Genesis 4:11
Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother's blood.

Genesis 4:12
No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth."

Genesis 4:13
Cain replied to the Lord , "My punishment is too great for me to bear!

Genesis 4:14
You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!"

Genesis 4:15
The Lord replied, "No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you." Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.

Genesis 4:16
So Cain left the Lord 's presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Genesis 4:20
Adah gave birth to Jabal, who was the first of those who raise livestock and live in tents.

Genesis 4:24
If someone who kills Cain is punished seven times, then the one who kills me will be punished seventy-seven times!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow,.... Whether there would be a morrow for them or not, whether they should live till tomorrow; and if they should, they knew not what a morrow would bring forth, or what things would happen, which might prevent their intended journey and success: no man can secure a day, an hour, a moment, and much less a year of continuance in this life; nor can he foresee what will befall him today or tomorrow; therefore it is great stupidity to determine on this, and the other, without the leave of God, in whom he lives, moves, and has his being; and by whose providence all events are governed and directed; see Proverbs 27:1

for what is your life? of what kind and nature is it? what assurance can be had of the continuance of it? by what may it be expressed? or to what may it be compared?

it is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away; which rises out of the earth, or water, and expires almost as soon as it exists; at least, continues but a very short time, and is very weak and fleeting, and carried about here and there, and soon returns from whence it came: the allusion is to the breath of man, which is in his nostrils, and who is not to be accounted of, or depended on.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Whereas, ye know not what shall be on the morrow - They formed their plans as if they knew; the apostle says it could not be known. They had no means of ascertaining what would occur; whether they would live or die; whether they would be prospered, or would be overwhelmed with adversity. Of the truth of the remark made by the apostle here, no one can doubt; but it is amazing how men act as if it were false. We have no power of penetrating the future so as to be able to determine what will occur in a single day or a single hour, and yet we are almost habitually forming our plans as if we saw with certainty all that is to happen. The classic writings abound with beautiful expressions respecting the uncertainty of the future, and the folly of forming our plans as if it were known to us. Many of those passages, some of them almost precisely in the words of James, may be seen in Grotius and Pricaeus, in loc. Such passages occur in Anacreon, Euripides, Menander, Seneca, Horace, and others, suggesting an obvious but much-neglected thought, that the future is to is all unknown. Man cannot penetrate it; and his plans of life should be formed in view of the possibility that his life may be cut off and all his plans fail, and consequently in constant preparation for a higher world.

For what is your life? - All your plans must depend of course on the continuance of your life; but what a frail and uncertain thing is that! How transitory and evanescent as a basis on which to build any plans for the future! Who can calculate on the permanence of a vapor? Who can build any solid hopes on a mist?

It is even a vapour - Margin, “For it is.” The margin is the more correct rendering. The previous question had turned the attention to life as something peculiarly frail, and as of such a nature that no calculation could be based on its permanence. This expression gives a reason for that, to wit, that it is a mere vapor. The word “vapor” (ἀτμὶς atmis,) means a mist, an exhalation, a smoke; such a vapor as we see ascending from a stream, or as lies on the mountain side on the morning, or as floats for a little time in the air, but which is dissipated by the rising sun, leaving not a trace behind. The comparison of life with a vapor is common, and is as beautiful as it is just. Job says,

O remember that my life is Wind;

Mine eyes shall no more see good.

Job 7:7.

So the Psalmist,

For he remembered that they were but flesh,

A wind that passeth away and that cometh not again.

Psalms 78:39.

Compare 1 Chronicles 29:15; Job 14:10-11.

And then vanisheth away - Wholly disappears. Like the dissipated vapor, it is entirely gone. There is no remnant, no outline, nothing that reminds us that it ever was. So of life. Soon it disappears altogether. The works of art that man has made, the house that he has built, or the book that he has written, remain for a little time, but the life has gone. There is nothing of it remaining - any more than there is of the vapor which in the morning climbed silently up the mountain side. The animating principle has vanished forever. On such a frail and evanescent thing, who can build any substantial hopes?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. Whereas ye know not — This verse should be read in a parenthesis. It is not only impious, but grossly absurd, to speak thus concerning futurity, when ye know not what a day may bring forth. Life is utterly precarious; and God has not put it within the power of all the creatures he has made to command one moment of what is future.

It is even a vapour — Ατμις γαρ εστιν· It is a smoke, always fleeting, uncertain, evanescent, and obscured with various trials and afflictions. This is a frequent metaphor with the Hebrews; see Psalms 102:11; My days are like a shadow: Job 8:9; Our days upon earth are a shadow: 1 Chronicles 29:15; Our days on the earth are a shadow, and there is no abiding. Quid tam circumcisum, tam breve, quam hominis vita longissima? Plin. l. iii., Ep. 7. "What is so circumscribed, or so short, as the longest life of man?" "All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass withereth, and the flower fadeth, because the breath of the Lord bloweth upon it. Surely the people is like grass." St. James had produced the same figure, James 1:10; James 1:11. But there is a very remarkable saying in the book of Ecclesiasticus, which should be quoted: "As of the green leaves of a thick tree, some fall and some grow; so is the generation of flesh and blood: one cometh to an end, and another is born." Ecclus. xiv. 18.

We find precisely the same image in Homer as that quoted above. Did the apocryphal writer borrow it from the Greek poet?

Οἱη περ φυλλων γενεη, τοιηδε και ανδρων·

Φυλλα τα μεν τ' ανεμος χαμαδις χεει, αλλα δε θ' ὑλη

Τηλεθοωσα φυει, εσρος δ' επιγιγνεται ὡρη·

Ὡς ανδρων γενεη, ἡ μεν φυει, ἡ δ' αποληγει.

Il. l. vi., ver. 146.

Like leaves on trees the race of man is found,

Now green in youth, now withering on the ground

Another race the following spring supplies;

They fall successive, and successive rise.

So generations in their course decay;

So flourish these, when those are pass'd away.

POPE.