Font Size
James 4:13-5:11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
James 4:13-5:11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Boasting about Tomorrow
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.”(A) 14 Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.(B) 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.”(C) 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it commits sin.(D)
Warning to Rich Oppressors
5 Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. 2 Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten.(E) 3 Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure[a] during the last days. 4 Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.(F) 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.(G) 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.(H) 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.[b](I) 9 Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!(J) 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Indeed, we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about, for the Lord is compassionate and merciful.(K)
James 4:13-5:11
New International Version
James 4:13-5:11
New International Version
Boasting About Tomorrow
13 Now listen,(A) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”(B) 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.(C) 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,(D) we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.(E) 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.(F)
Warning to Rich Oppressors
5 Now listen,(G) you rich people,(H) weep and wail(I) because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.(J) 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.(K) 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers(L) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries(M) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.(N) 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves(O) in the day of slaughter.[a](P) 6 You have condemned and murdered(Q) the innocent one,(R) who was not opposing you.
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.(S) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting(T) for the autumn and spring rains.(U) 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming(V) is near.(W) 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,(X) or you will be judged. The Judge(Y) is standing at the door!(Z)
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets(AA) who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed(AB) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance(AC) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.(AD) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.(AE)
Footnotes
- James 5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.