Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen,^(A) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^{(B) 14} Why, 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.^{(C) 15} Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,^(D) we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.^{(E) 17} If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.^(F)

Patience in Suffering

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.^(A) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting^(B) for the autumn and spring rains.^{(C) 8} You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming^(D) is near.^{(E) 9} Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,^(F) or you will be judged. The Judge^(G) is standing at the door!^(H)

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets^(I) who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed^(J) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance^(K) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.^(L) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.^(M)