James 5:12

KJV1611 – Modern English

But above all things, my brethren, do not swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your 'yes' be 'yes,' and your 'no,' 'no'; lest you fall into condemnation.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

    Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or earth or any other oath. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No,’ so that you may not fall under judgment.

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    But{G1161} above{G4253} all things,{G3956} my{G3450} brethren,{G80} swear{G3660} not,{G3361} neither{G3383} by the heaven,{G3772} nor{G3383} by the earth,{G1093} nor{G3383} by any{G5100} other{G243} oath:{G3727} but{G1161} let{G2277} your{G5216} yea{G3483} be{G2277} yea,{G3483} and{G2532} your nay,{G3756} nay;{G3756} that{G2443} ye fall{G4098} not{G3361} under{G1519} judgment.{G3956}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    But{G1161} above{G4253} all things{G3956}, my{G3450} brethren{G80}, swear{G3660}{(G5720)} not{G3361}, neither{G3383} by heaven{G3772}, neither{G3383} by the earth{G1093}, neither{G3383} by any{G5100} other{G243} oath{G3727}: but{G1161} let{G2277} your{G5216} yea{G3483} be{G2277}{(G5749)} yea{G3483}; and{G2532} your nay{G3756}, nay{G3756}; lest{G3363} ye fall{G4098}{(G5632)} into{G1519} condemnation{G5272}.

  • Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

    But above all thynges my brethre sweare not nether by heven nether by erth nether by eny other othe. Let youre ye be ye and youre maye naye: lest ye faule into ypocrecy.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    But aboue all thinges my brethre, sweare not, nether by heaue, nether by earth, nether by eny other othe. Let youre ye be ye, and yor naye naye: lest ye faule in to ypocricy.

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    But before all thinges, my brethren, sweare not, neither by heauen, nor by earth, nor by any other othe: but let your yea, be yea, and your nay, nay, lest ye fall into condemnation.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    But aboue all thynges my brethren, sweare not, neither by heauen, neither by earth, neither any other othe: Let your yea, be yea, and your nay nay, lest you fall into condempnation.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    ¶ But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, neither 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 hypocrisy.{TR reads "under judgment" instead of "into hypocrisy"}

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    And before all things, my brethren, do not swear, neither by the heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath, and let your Yes be Yes, and the No, No; that under judgment ye may not fall.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment.

  • 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.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, neither 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 hypocrisy.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    And above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. But let your“Yes” be yes and your“No” be no, so that you may not fall into judgment.

Referenced Verses

  • Matt 5:33-37 : 33 Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord:' 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No': for whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
  • 2 Cor 1:17-20 : 17 When I therefore was intending this, did I act lightly? Or the things that I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be yes, yes, and no, no? 18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yes and no. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but in him was yes. 20 For all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
  • 1 Cor 11:34 : 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And I will set the rest in order when I come.
  • Matt 23:16-22 : 16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated! 17 Fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? 18 And, Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is guilty. 19 Fools and blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple, swears by it and by him that dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits 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 heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord:'

    34 But I say to you, do not swear at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne:

    35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

    36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

    37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No': for whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

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

  • Lev 5:4
    75%

    4 Or if a person swears, speaking falsely with his lips to do evil or to do good, whatever it is that a person may pronounce with an oath, and it is hidden from him; when he becomes aware of it, then he shall be guilty in any of these matters.

  • Lev 19:11-12
    2 verses
    75%

    11 You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.

    12 And you shall not swear by my name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.

  • Eccl 5:5-6
    2 verses
    74%

    5 It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

    6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the angel that it was an error; why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?

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

    17 When I therefore was intending this, did I act lightly? Or the things that I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be yes, yes, and no, no?

    18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yes and no.

    19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but in him was yes.

  • Jas 5:9
    73%

    9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door.

  • Heb 6:16
    73%

    16 For people indeed swear by something greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end to all dispute.

  • Jas 3:10
    72%

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

  • Num 30:2
    72%

    2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

  • Jas 4:11
    71%

    11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

  • Jas 3:1-2
    2 verses
    71%

    1 My brothers, do not be many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater judgment.

    2 For in many things we all stumble. If anyone does not stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

  • Matt 23:22
    71%

    22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it.

  • Eccl 5:2
    70%

    2 Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God, for God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore, let your words be few.

  • Matt 12:36-37
    2 verses
    70%

    36 But I say to you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account for in the day of judgment.

    37 For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.

  • Zech 8:17
    70%

    17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, says the LORD.

  • 1 Cor 6:7-8
    2 verses
    70%

    7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because you go to law one with another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather allow yourselves to be defrauded?

    8 No, you do wrong and defraud, and that your brethren.

  • Jas 1:19
    70%

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

  • Jas 1:16
    70%

    16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

  • Deut 5:11
    70%

    11 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

  • Eph 5:6
    70%

    6 Let no one deceive you with empty words: for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience.

  • Lev 5:1
    70%

    1 And if a person sins, and hears the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he has seen or known of it; if he does not speak of it, then he shall bear his guilt.

  • Zech 5:3
    69%

    3 Then he said to me, This is the curse that goes forth over the face of the whole earth: for everyone who steals shall be cut off according to it on this side; and everyone who swears shall be cut off according to it on that side.

  • Matt 23:18
    69%

    18 And, Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is guilty.

  • Ps 15:4
    69%

    4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised; but he honors those who fear the LORD. He who swears to his own hurt, and does not change.

  • Deut 5:20
    69%

    20 Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor.

  • Jas 2:7
    69%

    7 Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called?

  • Prov 30:6
    69%

    6 Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

  • 1 Thess 4:6
    69%

    6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

  • Jer 5:2
    69%

    2 And though they say, The LORD lives; surely they swear falsely.

  • 1 Thess 5:15
    69%

    15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone; but always pursue what is good, both for yourselves and for all.

  • Rom 3:4
    69%

    4 Certainly not: indeed, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, 'That you may be justified in your words, and may overcome when you are judged.'

  • 1 Kgs 8:31
    69%

    31 If any man trespass against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before your altar in this house:

  • Eccl 7:21
    69%

    21 Also, do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant curse you.

  • Isa 65:16
    69%

    16 So that he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself by the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth, because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my eyes.

  • 1 Pet 3:9
    68%

    9 Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

  • Matt 7:1
    68%

    1 Do not judge, so that you will not be judged.

  • Exod 20:16
    68%

    16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

  • Jas 2:12
    68%

    12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.