Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. New Living Translation Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. English Standard Version So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Berean Standard Bible Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin. Berean Literal Bible Therefore to the one knowing to do good, and not doing, it is sin. King James Bible Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. New King James Version Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. New American Standard Bible So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin. NASB 1995 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. NASB 1977 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin. Legacy Standard Bible Therefore, to one who knows to do the right thing and does not do it, to him it is sin. Amplified Bible So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin. Christian Standard Bible So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it. Holman Christian Standard Bible So it is a sin for the person who knows to do what is good and doesn’t do it. American Standard Version To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Aramaic Bible in Plain English Whoever knows the good and does not do it, to him it is sin. Contemporary English Version If you don't do what you know is right, you have sinned. Douay-Rheims Bible To him therefore who knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin. English Revised Version To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. GOD'S WORD® Translation Whoever knows what is right but doesn't do it is sinning. Good News Translation So then, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we are guilty of sin. International Standard Version Therefore, anyone who knows what is right but fails to do it is guilty of sin. Literal Standard Version to him, then, knowing to do good, and not doing [it], it is sin to him. Majority Standard Bible Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin. New American Bible So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin. NET Bible So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin. New Revised Standard Version Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin. New Heart English Bible To him therefore who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin. Webster's Bible Translation Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Weymouth New Testament If, however, a man knows what it is right to do and yet does not do it, he commits a sin. World English Bible To him therefore who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin. Young's Literal Translation to him, then, knowing to do good, and not doing, sin it is to him. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Do Not Boast of Tomorrow…16As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin. Cross References Luke 12:47 That servant who knows his master's will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. 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." 2 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. Treasury of Scripture Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin. Luke 12:47,48 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes… John 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. John 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. Jump to Previous Commits Fails Good However Ought Right Sin SinsJump to Next Commits Fails Good However Ought Right Sin SinsJames 4 1. We are to strive against covetousness;4. intemperance; 5. pride; 11. detraction and rash judgment of others; 13. and not to be boastful of our future plans. (17) Therefore . . . .--A difficulty presents itself in this verse--whether the application be general, or a particular comment on the words preceding. Probably both ideas are correct. We learn the converse to the evil of vainglory in life, namely, the good which may be wrought by every one. Occasions of well-doing lie in the abject at our doors, and the pleadings of pity in our very hearts. And thus it is that omission is at times worse than commission; and more souls are in jeopardy for things left undone than for things done. In "The Beautiful Legend" there is a strife between the call of duty to give out a dole of bread to the hungry, and the temptation to linger in religious ecstasy over a vision of Christ. But the true brother knew "to do good," and did it; and, returning at the end of his work, found his cell full of the radiant presence of the Lord, and heard the words of rich approval-- "Hadst thou stayed, I must have fled." And again, in another succession of thoughts on the text, God has no need of human knowledge; no, nor of our ignorance; "and it is a sin to shut the ears to instruction: it is a duty to get knowledge, to increase in knowledge, to abound in knowledge." Nor must we rest therein, but (2Peter 1:6-7) "add to knowledge temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity." Verse 17. - Conclusion of the section. "Some have supposed a direct reference to Romans 14:23, 'Whatsover is not of faith is sin.' We can scarcely assume so much; but the correspondence is very remarkable, and St. James supplements St. Paul. It is sin to doubt whether a thing be right, and yet do it. It is also sin to know that a thing is right, and yet to leave it undone" (Dean Scott, in the 'Speaker's Commentary').
Greek Therefore,οὖν (oun) Conjunction Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly. whoever αὐτῷ (autō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. knows εἰδότι (eidoti) Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate. [the] right thing καλὸν (kalon) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 2570: Properly, beautiful, but chiefly good, i.e. Valuable or virtuous. to do, ποιεῖν (poiein) Verb - Present Infinitive Active Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. yet καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. fails μὴ (mē) Adverb Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether. to do [it], ποιοῦντι (poiounti) Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. is ἐστιν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. guilty of sin. ἁμαρτία (hamartia) Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular Strong's 266: From hamartano; a sin. Links James 4:17 NIVJames 4:17 NLT James 4:17 ESV James 4:17 NASB James 4:17 KJV James 4:17 BibleApps.com James 4:17 Biblia Paralela James 4:17 Chinese Bible James 4:17 French Bible James 4:17 Catholic Bible NT Letters: James 4:17 To him therefore who knows to do (Ja Jas. Jam) |
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