Proverbs 27:1

27:1 Do not boast ¹  about tomorrow; ² 

for you do not know ³  what a day may bring forth.

Isaiah 56:12

56:12 Each one says, ⁴ 

‘Come on, I’ll get some wine!

Let’s guzzle some beer!

Tomorrow will be just like today!

We’ll have everything we want!’ ⁵ 

Luke 12:17-20

12:17 so ⁶  he thought to himself, ⁷  ‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ⁸  12:18 Then ⁹  he said, ‘I ¹⁰  will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 12:19 And I will say to myself, ¹¹  “You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 12:20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life ¹²  will be demanded back from ¹³  you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ ¹⁴ 

¹ tn The form אַל־תִּתְהַלֵּל (’al-tithallel) is the Hitpael jussive negated; it is from the common verb “to praise,” and so in this setting means “to praise oneself” or “to boast.”

² sn The word “tomorrow” is a metonymy of subject, meaning what will be done tomorrow, or in the future in general.

³ sn The expression “you do not know” balances the presumption of the first line, reminding the disciple of his ignorance and therefore his need for humility (e.g., Matt 6:34; Luke 12:20; Jas 4:13-16).

⁴ tn The words “each one says” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

⁵ tn Heb “great, [in] abundance, very much,” i.e., “very great indeed.” See HALOT 452 s.v. יֶתֶר.

⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate that this is a result of the preceding statement.

⁷ tn Grk “to himself, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated here.

⁸ sn I have nowhere to store my crops. The thinking here is prudent in terms of recognizing the problem. The issue in the parable will be the rich man’s solution, particularly the arrogance reflected in v. 19.

⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

¹⁰ sn Note how often the first person pronoun is present in these verses. The farmer is totally self absorbed.

¹¹ tn Grk “to my soul,” which is repeated as a vocative in the following statement, but is left untranslated as redundant.

¹² tn Grk “your soul,” but ψυχή (yuch) is frequently used of one’s physical life. It clearly has that meaning in this context.

¹³ tn Or “required back.” This term, ἀπαιτέω (apaitew), has an economic feel to it and is often used of a debt being called in for repayment (BDAG 96 s.v. 1).

¹⁴ tn Grk “the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” The words “for yourself” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.