James 5:12

Bible in Basic English (1941)

But most of all, my brothers, do not take oaths, not by the heaven, or by the earth, or by any other thing: but let your Yes be Yes, and your No be No: so that you may not be judged.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Matt 5:33-37 : 33 Again, you have knowledge that it was said in old times, Do not take false oaths, but give effect to your oaths to the Lord: 34 But I say to you, Take no oaths at all: not by the heaven, because it is the seat of God; 35 Or by the earth, because it is the resting-place for his foot; or by Jerusalem, because it is the town of the great King. 36 You may not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 37 But let your words be simply, Yes or No: and whatever is more than these is of the Evil One.
  • 2 Cor 1:17-20 : 17 If then I had such a purpose, did I seem to be changing suddenly? or am I guided in my purposes by the flesh, saying, Yes, today, and, No, tomorrow? 18 As God is true, our word to you is not Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we were preaching among you, even I and Silvanus and Timothy, was not Yes and No, but in him is Yes. 20 For he is the Yes to all the undertakings of God: and by him all the words of God are made certain and put into effect, to the glory of God through us.
  • 1 Cor 11:34 : 34 If any man is in need of food, let him take his meal in his house; so that you may not come together to your damage. And the rest I will put in order when I come.
  • Matt 23:16-22 : 16 A curse is on you, blind guides, who say, Whoever takes an oath by the Temple, it is nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gold of the Temple, he is responsible. 17 You foolish ones and blind: which is greater, the gold, or the Temple which makes the gold holy? 18 And, Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the offering which is on it, he is responsible. 19 You blind ones: which is greater, the offering, or the altar which makes the offering holy? 20 He, then, who takes an oath by the altar, takes it by the altar and by all things on it. 21 And he who takes an oath by the Temple, takes it by the Temple and by him whose house it is. 22 And he who takes an oath by heaven, takes it by the seat of God, and by him who is seated on it.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Matt 5:33-38
    6 verses
    83%

    33 Again, you have knowledge that it was said in old times, Do not take false oaths, but give effect to your oaths to the Lord:

    34 But I say to you, Take no oaths at all: not by the heaven, because it is the seat of God;

    35 Or by the earth, because it is the resting-place for his foot; or by Jerusalem, because it is the town of the great King.

    36 You may not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.

    37 But let your words be simply, Yes or No: and whatever is more than these is of the Evil One.

    38 You have knowledge that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

  • Lev 5:4
    75%

    4 Or if anyone, without thought, takes an oath to do evil or to do good, whatever he says without thought, with an oath, having no knowledge of what he is doing; when it becomes clear to him, he will be responsible for any of these things.

  • Lev 19:11-12
    2 verses
    75%

    11 Do not take anyone's property or be false in act or word to another.

    12 And do not take an oath in my name falsely, putting shame on the name of your God: I am the Lord.

  • Eccl 5:5-6
    2 verses
    74%

    5 Let not your mouth make your flesh do evil. And say not before the angel, It was an error. So that God may not be angry with your words and put an end to the work of your hands.

    6 Because much talk comes from dreams and things of no purpose. But let the fear of God be in you.

  • 2 Cor 1:17-19
    3 verses
    73%

    17 If then I had such a purpose, did I seem to be changing suddenly? or am I guided in my purposes by the flesh, saying, Yes, today, and, No, tomorrow?

    18 As God is true, our word to you is not Yes and No.

    19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we were preaching among you, even I and Silvanus and Timothy, was not Yes and No, but in him is Yes.

  • Jas 5:9
    73%

    9 Say no hard things against one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged; see, the judge is waiting at the doors.

  • Heb 6:16
    73%

    16 For men at all times make their oaths by what is greater; and any argument is ended by the decision of the oath.

  • Jas 3:10
    72%

    10 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not right for these things to be so.

  • Num 30:2
    72%

    2 And Moses said to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, This is the order of the Lord.

  • Jas 4:11
    71%

    11 Do not say evil against one another, my brothers. He who says evil against his brother or makes himself his brother's judge, says evil against the law and is judging the law: and in judging the law you become, not a doer of the law but a judge.

  • Jas 3:1-2
    2 verses
    71%

    1 Do not all be teachers, my brothers, because we teachers will be judged more hardly than others.

    2 For we all go wrong in a number of things. If a man never makes a slip in his talk, then he is a complete man and able to keep all his body in control.

  • Matt 23:22
    71%

    22 And he who takes an oath by heaven, takes it by the seat of God, and by him who is seated on it.

  • Eccl 5:2
    70%

    2 As a dream comes from much business, so the voice of a foolish man comes with words in great number.

  • Matt 12:36-37
    2 verses
    70%

    36 And I say to you that in the day when they are judged, men will have to give an account of every foolish word they have said.

    37 For by your words will your righteousness be seen, and by your words you will be judged.

  • Zech 8:17
    70%

    17 Let no one have any evil thought in his heart against his neighbour; and have no love for false oaths: for all these things are hated by me, says the Lord.

  • 1 Cor 6:7-8
    2 verses
    70%

    7 More than this, it is not to your credit to have causes at law with one another at all. Why not put up with wrong? why not undergo loss?

    8 So far from doing this, you yourselves do wrong and take your brothers' property.

  • Jas 1:19
    70%

    19 You have knowledge of this, dear brothers. But let every man be quick in hearing, slow in words, slow to get angry;

  • Jas 1:16
    70%

    16 Do not be turned from the right way, dear brothers.

  • Deut 5:11
    70%

    11 You are not to make use of the name of the Lord your God for an evil purpose; whoever takes the Lord's name on his lips for an evil purpose will be judged as a sinner by the Lord.

  • Eph 5:6
    70%

    6 Do not be turned from the right way by foolish words; for because of these things the punishment of God comes on those who do not put themselves under him.

  • Lev 5:1
    70%

    1 And if anyone does wrong by saying nothing when he is put under oath as a witness of something he has seen or had knowledge of, then he will be responsible:

  • Zech 5:3
    69%

    3 Then he said to me, This is the curse which goes out over the face of all the land: for long enough has every thief gone without punishment, and long enough has every taker of false oaths gone without punishment.

  • Matt 23:18
    69%

    18 And, Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the offering which is on it, he is responsible.

  • Ps 15:4
    69%

    4 Who gives honour to those who have the fear of the Lord, turning away from him who has not the Lord's approval. He who takes an oath against himself, and makes no change.

  • Deut 5:20
    69%

    20 Do not give false witness against your neighbour;

  • Jas 2:7
    69%

    7 Do they not say evil of the holy name which was given to you?

  • Prov 30:6
    69%

    6 Make no addition to his words, or he will make clear your error, and you will be seen to be false.

  • 1 Thess 4:6
    69%

    6 And that no man may make attempts to get the better of his brother in business: for the Lord is the judge in all these things, as we said to you before and gave witness.

  • Jer 5:2
    69%

    2 And though they say, By the living Lord; truly their oaths are false.

  • 1 Thess 5:15
    69%

    15 Let no one give evil for evil; but ever go after what is good, for one another and for all.

  • Rom 3:4
    69%

    4 In no way: but let God be true, though every man is seen to be untrue; as it is said in the Writings, That your words may be seen to be true, and you may be seen to be right when you are judged.

  • 1 Kgs 8:31
    69%

    31 If a man does wrong to his neighbour, and has to take an oath, and comes before your altar to take his oath in this house:

  • Eccl 7:21
    69%

    21 Do not give ear to all the words which men say, for fear of hearing the curses of your servant.

  • Isa 65:16
    69%

    16 So that he who is requesting a blessing will make use of the name of the true God, and he who takes an oath will do so by the true God; because the past troubles are gone out of mind, and because they are covered from my eyes.

  • 1 Pet 3:9
    68%

    9 Not giving back evil for evil, or curse for curse, but in place of cursing, blessing; because this is the purpose of God for you that you may have a heritage of blessing.

  • Matt 7:1
    68%

    1 Be not judges of others, and you will not be judged.

  • Exod 20:16
    68%

    16 Do not give false witness against your neighbour.

  • Jas 2:12
    68%

    12 Let your words and your acts be those of men who are to be judged by the law which makes free.