James 4:16

16 But now you are proud and you brag. All of this bragging is wrong.

James 4:16 Meaning and Commentary

James 4:16

But now ye rejoice in your boastings
Of tomorrow, and of the continuance of life, and of going to such a place, and abiding there for such a time, and of trading and trafficking with great success, to the obtaining of much gain and riches; see ( Proverbs 27:1 )

all such rejoicing is evil;
wicked and atheistical, as expressing a neglect of and independence on Providence; arrogating and ascribing too much to themselves, their power and will, as if they had their lives and fortunes in their own hands, and at their own dispose, when all depend upon the will of God. The Syriac version renders it, "all such rejoicing is from evil"; from an evil heart, and from the evil one, Satan.

James 4:16 In-Context

14 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.
15 So you should say, "If the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that."
16 But now you are proud and you brag. All of this bragging is wrong.
17 Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.