Yaakov 4:16

16 But now you boast in your pretensions. All such ravrevanut (boastfulness) is ra’ah (evil, wickedness).

Yaakov 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.

Yaakov 4:16 In-Context

14 Yet you do not even have da’as of what tomorrow’s "yom" may bring. Look at your life! Are you not an ed (mist), appearing a short time, then indeed disappearing? [IYOV 7:7; TEHILLIM 39:5; 102:3; 144:4; YESHAYAH 2:22]

15 Instead of this, you ought to say "Im yirtzeh Hashem" ("if the L-rd wills") "we will live, also we will do this or that."

16 But now you boast in your pretensions. All such ravrevanut (boastfulness) is ra’ah (evil, wickedness).

17 To the one having da’as, therefore, knowing to do tov and not doing it, to him it is chet.