James 4:17
15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
16 As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.
Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
- KJV
- Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- WEB
- To him therefore who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.
- ASV
- To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- DARBY
- To him therefore who knows how to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.
- BLB
- Therefore to the one knowing to do good, and not doing [it], to him it is sin.
- ÅB
- Den som altså vet å gjøre godt og ikke gjør det, han har synd av det.
- OTB
- Derfor, hvis noen vet hva godt de burde gjøre og ikke gjør det, er det synd for dem.
- B1930
- Den som altså vet å gjøre godt og ikke gjør det, han har synd av det.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
John 9:41
“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
Read in contextJohn 13:17
If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Read in contextJohn 15:22
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
Read in context2 Peter 2:21
It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.
Read in contextLuke 12:47–48
That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
Read in contextRomans 1:32
Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.
Read in contextRomans 2:17–23
Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;
Read in contextRomans 1:20–21
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.
Read in context