Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse corrects a subtle but dangerous assumption: that our ability to live and act is entirely our own. James is highlighting that "we shall live" and "do this or that" are both entirely dependent on God's will, not just our own plans and abilities.
Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
James is correcting the arrogant presumption of those who plan their future as if they were in complete control, essentially saying "we will go here, do this, and make a profit." Instead of this boastful attitude, he instructs them to acknowledge their utter dependence on God's will for both their lives and their future actions. This humility and recognition of divine sovereignty is the proper way to approach any plans, recognizing that life itself is a gift from God.
Ever feel like life is just happening to you? This verse offers a different perspective on our plans and God's control.
James is calling out a kind of arrogant boasting about the future. When people said, 'We will go to this city or that,' they were acting as if their plans were guaranteed and completely in their own hands.
James corrects this by saying we ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.' This isn't about believing in a distant, unfeeling fate. It's about recognizing that the God who created everything also sustains it.
God's Will vs. Fate
Life is fragile and unpredictable. How does acknowledging this shape the way we plan and speak about our futures?
Our lives and our ability to accomplish anything are entirely dependent on God. James emphasizes this by including both 'we will live' and 'do this or that' under the condition of 'If the Lord wills.'
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Our Fragile Existence
This isn't meant to paralyze us with fear, but to foster a healthy humility. It reminds us that true security and lasting success are found not in our own plans, but in aligning ourselves with God's purposes and trusting in His provision.
Understand the original words
thelēma · Greek Noun
The sovereign purpose, desire, or decree of God. It acknowledges that human plans are subject to divine permission and that wisdom consists in aligning human will with God's perfect plan.
Paul expresses a similar sentiment when he states his intention to stay longer in Ephesus, adding the crucial condition 'if God permits,' underscoring the dependence of human plans on divine will.
1 Corinthians 4:19This passage directly echoes James, as Paul intends to visit the Corinthians and states, 'I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills,' demonstrating the apostle's consistent recognition of God's sovereignty over future actions.
Proverbs 27:1This verse highlights the folly of boasting about tomorrow, as we don't know what a day may bring forth, aligning with James's warning against presumptuous planning that ignores the uncertainty of life and God's ultimate control.
Luke 12:32Jesus reassures the disciples not to fear, for it is their Father's good pleasure to give them the kingdom, implying that even the greatest of human desires are ultimately subject to the Father's will and pleasure.
ellicottJames 4:15: "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
(15) For that ye ought to say . . . . —Referring to James 4:13 , in some such a continuation of reproof as this: Woe unto you that say, . . . . instead of saying, “ If the Lord will ”. . . . In fact, it is a thing of the past, not of time, but completed action on the part of God—“If the Lord have willed it, we shall both live and do this or that.” Such is far, be it noted, from Fatalism, in even its b…
barnesJames 4:15: "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
For that ye ought to say - Instead of what you do say, "we will go into such a city," you ought rather to recognise your absolute dependence on God, and feel that life and success are subject to his will. The meaning is not that we ought always to be saying that in so many words, for this might become a mere ostentatious form, offensive by constant unmeaning repetition; but we are, in the proper way,…
This verse corrects a subtle but dangerous assumption: that our ability to live and act is entirely our own. James is highlighting that "we shall live" and "do this or that" are both entirely dependent on God's will, not just our own plans and abilities.
James is correcting the arrogant presumption of those who plan their future as if they were in complete control, essentially saying "we will go here, do this, and make a profit." Instead of this boastful attitude, he instructs them to acknowledge their utter dependence on God's will for both their lives and their future actions. This humility and recognition of divine sovereignty is the proper way to approach any plans, recognizing that life itself is a gift from God.
James is correcting the arrogant presumption of those who plan their future as if they were in complete control, essentially saying "we will go here, do this, and make a profit." Instead of this boastful attitude, he instructs them to acknowledge their utter dependence on God's will for both their lives and their future actions. This humility and recognition of divine sovereignty is the proper way to approach any plans, recognizing that life itself is a gift from God.
"Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”" — This verse corrects a subtle but dangerous assumption: that our ability to live and act is entirely our own. James is highlighting that "we shall live" and "do this or that" are both entirely depen…
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Last reviewed October 2026