James 4:15

For that ye ought to say Literally, Instead of saying, but the English may be admitted as a fair paraphrase.

If the Lord will, we shall live This is the reading of the better MSS. The Received Text gives "If the Lord will, and we live, we will do this or that." The sense is substantially the same with either, but it is perhaps, more expressive to refer both life and action to the one Supreme Will. It is better here to refer the word "Lord" to God in His Absolute Unity, without any thought of the distinction of the Persons. The reference of all the contingencies of the future to one supremely wise and loving Will has been in all ages of Christendom the stay and strength of devout souls. It has left its mark, even where it has not always been received as a reality, in familiar formulæ, such as "God willing," Deo Volente, or even the abbreviated D. V. There is, perhaps, a special interest in noting that St Paul uses the self-same formula as St James in reference to his plans for the future (1 Corinthians 4:19).