I Shall Be Innocent From the Great Transgression

Keep me from presumptuous sins, don't let them have dominion over me.

Chapter 1

The title is from Psalm 19, verse 13.

Here are Psalms 19 and 20 from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version--

___Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork.

2 Day to day yields speech, and night to night shows knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his room, and rejoices like a strong man to run a race.

6 His going out is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit to the ends of it, and there is nothing hidden from the heat of it.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, the testimony of the Lord is sure, making the simple wise.

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart, the commandment of the Lord is pure, illuminating the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous completely.

10 They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Also your servant is warned by them, and there is great reward by keeping them.

12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins, don't let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

___Psalm 20

1 The Lord hear you in the day of trouble, the name of the God of Jacob defend you,

2 Send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion,

3 Remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice, Selah.

4 Grant you according to your own heart, and fulfill all your advice.

5 We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners, may the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6 Now know I that the Lord saves his anointed, he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

8 They've been brought down and have fallen, but we've risen, and stand upright.

9 Save, Lord, let the king hear us when we call.

Chapter 2

The margin in my Bible says that David wrote Psalm 19.

David wanted to be free from the great transgression.

So do I. Don't we all?

Well, unfortunately, no, not all.

And what is the great transgression?

I believe the great transgression is to fail to sufficiently fear the Lord.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psa 111:10)

Moses said, “I exceedingly fear and shake (before God).” (Heb 12:21)

The Apostle Paul admonishes us to, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Phil 2:12)

Don't be too sure of yourself in your expectation that although others might go to hell, that won't happen to you.

Don't take for granted a favorable destination in eternity for yourself.

Don't take God's favor for granted.

God favors those who fear him, but those who scorn the Lord are in danger of the wrath of God.

A little scorn might creep in without being noticed. I knew a man who was supposed to be a Christian.

But he told a joke that I consider to be off-color. A joke that I believe the best kind of Christian doesn't tell.

I'll tell you what it was for the purpose of teaching, but I hope no one repeats this joke.

Somehow the subject was phonograph records. This man said something about a recording "On the Oral Roberts label, that's the one where the hole in the center of the record heals up."

That is a scornful joke. No matter what you think about Oral Roberts, that joke also pokes fun at divine healing.

Does that joke teller think that he will never get sick? When he does get sick, some divine healing might be just what he needs.

But he's likely to find that divine healing is not so readily available because of his joke that he told that scorns divine healing.

Has he forgotten about all the people that Jesus healed in the Bible?

Is getting a cheap laugh worth hurting you own chances for divine healing when it comes time that you need it?

The man was a smart enough person that I would have thought he'd have known better than to tell a dirty joke like that.

Pray this prayer that David prayed, "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." (Psa 141:3)

It says in the book of James that the tongue is the hardest thing to control. But the Lord wants us to control it.

Don't assume that everything is going to go well for your soul without your having to do much about it.

It is a fault that sends people to hell. And hell is forever.

Jesus said that in hell, there's crying and gnashing of teeth, where their worms don't die, and where the fire is never quenched.

And I know Jesus doesn't tell lies.

Don't embrace the idea that the Lord will let you get away with some stuff.

No one gets away with anything.

Everything we do and say is written down in books in heaven.

The Book of Revelation tells us the books will be opened on Judgment Day, and we'll be judged for the things that we have said and done.

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb 10:31)

“Let him that thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall.” (1 Cor 10:12)

Don't assume that since God wants heaven to be filled with people, he'll sort of let us slip in, or sneak in, without meeting the formal requirements.

And what would the formal requirements be?

Jesus said, "You must be born again." (John chapter 3, Romans 10:9,10, Rev 3:20)

We're supposed to be faithful until death. (Rev 2:10)

We're supposed to endure to the end. (Matt 10:22)

And also, Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

But how can we keep his commandments unless we know what they are?

And how can we know what they are unless we spend time in the Word, the Bible.

Am I suggesting that we can earn our way to heaven? No, "by grace you're saved through faith." (Eph 2:8)

But the Bible also says, “Faith without works is dead...” (James 2:20)

Someone might say, “Well, when I became a Christian, wasn't my name written in the Lamb's Book of Life in Heaven?

Yes it was. But remember this: when discussing this subject with Moses, the Lord talked about his ability to blot out names from His book.

There is a lie that some Christians have believed that says, “Once saved, always saved.”

That lie is saying that once you become a Christian, you can never lose it. Oh yes you can.

If Christians couldn't lose their salvation, why would the Apostle Paul tell us to “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”? (Phil 2:12)

If you can't lose your salvation, where is the need for fear and trembling?

No, we need the fear and trembling because it is possible for a Christian to lose their salvation. But the Lord will try to keep you from doing that.

There's a scripture where Jesus said, “No man can pluck them out of my hand.”

And Jesus also said, “My Father is greater than I am, and no man can pluck them out of my Father's hand.”

No, but they can walk out.

And why would they do that?

“The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things.” (from the Parable of the Planter, Mark chapt 4)

“The deceitfulness of riches.” So then, riches can deceive people.

But the Lord will make some effort to stop people from turning their backs on him.

Whey my Mother was a young woman. Maybe she was about twelve, I'm not sure.

Mother attended Sunday School.

One Sunday, the lady who was her Sunday School teacher got rather aggressive with her, and pretty much insisted that Mother pray a sinner's prayer to become a Christian, which Mother did.

Afterward, the Lord spoke to my Mother. He said, "Well, you weren't very enthusiastic today about becoming a Christian, were you?"

Mother said, "Well no, I wanted to have some fun."

(My Mother was a younger sister with older brothers and sisters. She saw how they would go out dancing, and I guess she was looking forward to the time when she would be old enough to do so, too.)

The Lord spoke to her again, and said, "Do you want to be lost?"

She answered, "No, I don't want to be lost."

I believe the Lord will make an effort with most people, but if you spurn the Lord enough times, He might give up on you.

Paul the Apostle, writing to the Romans, spoke of God giving people over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient (Rom 1:28)

In other words, God gave up on them.

If God ever gives up on you, you're in deep trouble.

No, better be more like Moses, and exceedingly fear and shake. (Heb 12:21)

And Jesus showed us that some former Christians will wind up in hell, for it is written--

21 Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, haven't we prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works?

23 And then I will tell them, I never knew you, go away from me, you sinners. (Matt chapt 7)

Notice, in verse 22, that they had cast out demons.

But in Acts 19, the seven sons of Sceva tried to cast out demons, and couldn't because they weren't Christians.

You can't cast out demons if you're not a Christian.

Those people then were Christians because they had cast out demons from people, but then, they still went to hell.

I was discussing this passage with a brother who said, “Doesn't the fact that Jesus said I never knew you mean that they had not been Christians?”

I said, “No because God told Ezekiel, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness to wickedness, all his righteousness shall be forgotten.” (Ezek chapt 3)

If you turn from righteousness to wickedness, it is as though you never had righteousness.

Let's learn a lesson from Moses, the Man of God, and do some fearing and shaking ourselves.

And here's another lesson to be learned from Moses.

From Numbers 12:3--

(Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all the men who were on the face of the earth.)

The Bible says, “The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” (from Psalm 37)

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb 10:31)

I heard a teacher say that fear is the reverse gear of faith. No it isn't.

The opposite of faith is unbelief.

Fear is of two kinds. There is a good kind of fear, and there is a bad kind of fear.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Psa 111:10)

Let's not try to do away with the fear of the Lord.

Another scripture says, “Happy is the man who always fears.” (Prov 28:14)

The Bible says that Noah was moved with fear when he obeyed God and built the ark.

If Noah had not been moved by fear to obey God and build the ark, then with no ark, the flood would have destroyed everyone, and you and I wouldn't be here on earth.

But there are bad fears from the enemy, such as a fear that if you go outside your house, something bad will happen to you.

And there are people who have been afraid to go out of their houses.

That's an example of a wrong fear, and it's demonic in origin.

A certain well-known actress recently had her breasts cut off because her family had a history of cancer, and doing so would prevent breast cancer.

Yes, I guess people with no breasts can't get breast cancer. But guess what? There are a lot of other kinds of cancer.

Seems like former President Ulysses S. Grant had throat cancer. Are you going to cut out your throat to prevent throat cancer? No, that would be suicide.

And God is against suicide. I wrote a book on that.

You just can't cut off everything that might become afflicted with cancer.

The fear that that actress had was not of God.

That's why you need the very top doctor. His name is Jesus. And he makes house calls.

An authority on divine healing is Kenneth E. Hagin. Although he has gone to be with Jesus, his books and CD's are still available.

Some on Amazon, and also at www.Rhema.org

Jesus said, “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul. Or, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul. (Mark 8:36,37)

You've lost your soul if you go to hell.

You can, however, get your sins forgiven by getting born again. (John chapter 3, Romans 10:9,10, Rev 3:20)

You can be washed in the blood of Jesus, and made whiter than snow.

We Christians are made righteous in the sight of God by Jesus' blood.

Chapter 3

I know a man who had been an evangelical Christian. He was a show biz personality. He was on a weekly TV program that lasted for many years.

After that TV show ended, he had his own radio show, and also gave concerts, as the very good musician that he was.

My Mother and I got tickets and attended one of his concerts.

But he let his salvation slip away.

There's a scripture where it says, “Let no man take your crown.” (Rev 3:11)

That means, hold tightly to your salvation.

On the man's radio show, he spoke of the “church” that he was going to.

But that “church” is part of a false religion. They don't have Jesus as Savior, and they don't believe the Bible.

Why would you turn from the truth to following lies?

But that's what he did.

Show biz probably didn't help any.

Please see my book, “Can a Christian be in Show Biz?”

And also, perhaps the man married an unbeliever. I've seen his wife. She's from Europe.

Some Europeans are Christians, but many Europeans are ungodly, and won't execute murderers, as the Bible says to do in Numbers 35:33.

For that matter, some places in America they won't do what God says in Num 35:33, and execute murderers.

It is a bad idea to go against God's principles, and that verse says that if you don't execute murderers the land becomes defiled.

The Bible says, “Don't be unequally yoked together with unbelievers...” (2 Cor 6:14)

And if this man had done right and married another Christian, then his Christian wife might have helped him not to stray from Christianity, as he did.

There's an excellent example in the Bible. God raised up a savior and a deliverer for Israel in the person of Samson.

An angel announced ahead of time to his parents that Samson would be coming.

Samson became one of Israel's Judges in the book of Judges in the Bible. But while the typical judge judged Israel forty years, Samson only twenty.

Samson got himself tangled up with Delilah, a woman not of Israel, and though Samson was a mighty warrior, that woman brought him down.

In any case, this show biz man who lost his salvation failed to “work out his own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil 2:12)

I believe this man committed the Great Transgression.

If he doesn't find out before, he'll find out his error upon his arrival in hell.

He will no doubt be one of those who on Judgment Day are saying, “Lord, Lord, didn't I get born again at such and such a church, and didn't I play music in worship services...”

But, you see, his righteousness will be forgotten, like God said to Ezekiel. (Ezekiel chapt 3)

And I think his son also attends that false church, and probably his wife. Looks like all three will spend the rest of eternity in that very undesirable place, hell.

But I guess the man made pretty good money, and has a nice house in the San Fernando Valley, but what good will that do him in hell?

Jesus said, “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36,37)

Better to apply a heavy dose of fear and trembling during this life on earth, and making sure you get to heaven, than spending eternity wishing that you had done so, and tormented by the flames.

The man lost sight of the fact that “Our God is a consuming fire.” (Heb 12:29)

I know another man who was a Christian from his youth. He had a good heart. But later, he turned away from the Lord and quit being a Christian.

Now in this particular case, I don't think it was so much a case of his committing the great transgression as it was that the man let Mark 4:19 happen.

This is from the Parable of the Planter--

“And these are the ones that are planted among thorns, such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." (Mark chapt 4:18,19)

I believe the man let the lusts of other things enter in, which choked the word, and he turned loose of his salvation in Jesus.

I mentioned this man to someone, and they said, “You should pray for him.”

No, I'm not going to pray for him because I believe the Lord has shown me that he is a Hebrews chapter six person.

___Hebrews chapter 6

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And we'll do this, if God permits.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify to themselves the Son of God again, and put him to an open shame.

7 For the earth that drinks in the rain that often comes on it, and produces vegetables appropriate for the farmers, receives blessing from God,

8 But that which produces thorns and briers is rejected, and is near cursing, whose end is to be burned.

The people who are in that category can't be renewed again to repentance. (vs 6)

The man had tasted of the heavenly gift (Jesus).

I believe he had received the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, and had tasted the word of God. In fact that man had been a Sunday School teacher.

But I believe he got into some things he shouldn't have gotten into, and became hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Heb 3:13)

So then, sin can deceive people.

And one mistake he made was to let most of his friends be unbelievers.

From 2 Corinthians chapter 6--

14 Don't be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? And what communion does light have with darkness?

15 And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does the believer have with an unbeliever?

16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will live in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

17 "So, come out from among them, and be separate," says the Lord, "and don't touch the unclean thing, and I'll receive you,

18 And will be a Father to you, and you'll be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Now some people think this “don't be unequally yoked...” means don't marry an unbeliever, and I believe that's surely included.

But also, if you as a Christian, surround yourself with unbelieving friends, aren't you then somewhat yoked with them? You share activities with them. You become like minded with them.

Can two walk together unless they're agreed? (Amos 3:3)

Why would a Christian want to be like minded with unbelievers?

Notice verse 15, above, “Or what part does the believer have with an unbeliever?”

If you're a Christian, try to have Christian friends.

But at the place where I'm living, I have unbelieving neighbors, and I sometimes visit a little with them because I believe it's better to have my neighbors as friends than as enemies.

“A man that has friends must show himself friendly.” (Prov 18:24)

But I don't spend a lot of time with them. For one thing, they and I don't seem to have a lot in common.

They're interested in things I'm not interested in, and vice versa.

___James chapter 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings.

2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations,

3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,

10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away.

11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man,

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brothers.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.

18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God.

21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror,

24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

___James chapter 2

1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also,

3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool,"

4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats?

7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called?

8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well,

9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners.

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law.

12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment.

14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food,

16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that?

17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works."

19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."

24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

___James chapter 3

1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies.

4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants.

5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind,

8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be.

11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace.

___James chapter 4

1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members?

2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask.

3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?"

6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up.

11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else?

13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit,"

14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that."

16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

___James chapter 5

1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten.

3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter.

6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you.

7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near.

9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door.

10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms.

14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven.

16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good.

17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him,

20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.