Misuse of Riches

(A)Come now, (B)you rich, (C)weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. (D)Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is (E)in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! Behold, (F)the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and (G)the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of (H)the Lord of [a]Sabaoth. You have (I)lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have [b]fattened your hearts in (J)a day of slaughter. You have condemned and [c](K)put to death (L)the righteous man; he does not resist you.

Exhortation

Therefore be patient, (M)brethren, (N)until the coming of the Lord. (O)The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until [d]it gets (P)the early and late rains. (Q)You too be patient; (R)strengthen your hearts, for (S)the coming of the Lord is (T)near. (U)Do not [e]complain, (V)brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, (W)the Judge is standing [f](X)right at the [g]door. 10 As an example, (Y)brethren, of suffering and patience, take (Z)the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We count those (AA)blessed who endured. You have heard of (AB)the [h]endurance of Job and have seen (AC)the [i]outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that (AD)the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

12 But above all, (AE)my brethren, (AF)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but [j]your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

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Footnotes

  1. James 5:4 I.e. Hosts
  2. James 5:5 Lit nourished
  3. James 5:6 Or murdered
  4. James 5:7 Or he
  5. James 5:9 Lit groan
  6. James 5:9 Lit before
  7. James 5:9 Lit doors
  8. James 5:11 Or steadfastness
  9. James 5:11 Lit end of the Lord
  10. James 5:12 Lit yours is to be yes, yes, and no, no

Warning to Rich Oppressors

Now listen,(A) you rich people,(B) weep and wail(C) because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.(D) 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.(E) Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers(F) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries(G) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.(H) You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves(I) in the day of slaughter.[a](J) You have condemned and murdered(K) the innocent one,(L) who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.(M) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting(N) for the autumn and spring rains.(O) You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming(P) is near.(Q) Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,(R) or you will be judged. The Judge(S) is standing at the door!(T)

10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets(U) who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed(V) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance(W) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.(X) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.(Y)

12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.(Z)

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Footnotes

  1. James 5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting