James Chapter 4 verse 17 Holy Bible
To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
read chapter 4 in ASV
The man who has knowledge of how to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
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To him therefore who knows how to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.
read chapter 4 in DARBY
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
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read chapter 4 in WBT
To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.
read chapter 4 in WEB
to him, then, knowing to do good, and not doing, sin it is to him.
read chapter 4 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 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').
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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."
