Warning to the Rich

Come now, (A)you rich, weep and howl for the (B)miseries that are coming upon you. (C)Your riches have rotted and (D)your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. (E)You have laid up treasure (F)in the last days. Behold, (G)the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and (H)the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of (I)the Lord of hosts. (J)You have lived on the earth in luxury and (K)in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in (L)a day of slaughter. You have condemned and (M)murdered (N)the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Patience in Suffering

Be patient, therefore, brothers,[a] until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives (O)the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. (P)Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord (Q)is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, (R)so that you may not be judged; behold, (S)the Judge is standing (T)at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take (U)the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of (V)the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen (W)the purpose of the Lord, how (X)the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

12 But above all, my brothers, (Y)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

The Prayer of Faith

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him (Z)sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, (AA)anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And (AB)if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, (AC)confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, (AD)that you may be healed. (AE)The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.[b] 17 Elijah was a man (AF)with a nature like ours, and (AG)he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for (AH)three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 (AI)Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

19 My brothers, (AJ)if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone (AK)brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering (AL)will save his soul from death and (AM)will cover a multitude of sins.

Footnotes

  1. James 5:7 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 9, 10, 12, 19
  2. James 5:16 Or The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power

警告不义的有钱人

你们富有的人哪,应当为那将要临到你们的灾祸哭泣哀号。 你们的财物朽坏了,你们的衣服给蛀了, 你们的金银生锈,这锈要成为控告你们的铁证,又要像火一样吞吃你们的肉。你们竟然在这末后的日子积聚财宝。 看哪,工人为你们收割庄稼,你们竟然克扣他们的工资;那工资必为他们呼冤;收割者的呼声,已经达到万军之主的耳中了。 你们在世上穷奢极侈,养肥了自己,竟不知屠宰的日子到了。 你们把义人定罪杀害,但他并没有反抗。

忍耐的人有福了

所以,弟兄们,你们应当忍耐,直到主来。看哪,农夫等待着地里宝贵的出产,为它忍耐,直到获得秋霖春雨。 你们也应当忍耐,坚定自己的心;因为主再来的日子近了。 弟兄们,不要彼此抱怨,免得你们受审判。看哪,审判的主已经站在门前了。 10 弟兄们,你们应当效法奉主的名说话的先知,以他们为受苦忍耐的榜样。 11 看哪,那些忍耐的人,我们称他们是有福的;你们听过约伯的忍耐,也看见了主赐给他的结局,知道主是满有怜悯和仁慈的。

12 我的弟兄们,最要紧的是不可起誓:不可指着天起誓,也不可指着地起誓,任何的誓都当禁绝。你们的话,是就说是,不是就说不是;免得你们落在审判之下。

义人的祈祷大有功效

13 你们中间有人受苦吗?他就应该祷告。有人心情愉快吗?他就应该歌颂。 14 你们中间有人患病吗?他就应该请教会的长老来,让他们奉主的名为他抹油祈祷。 15 出于信心的祈祷,可以使病人康复,主必叫他起来;他若犯了罪,也必蒙赦免。 16 所以你们应当彼此认罪,互相代求,这样你们就可以痊愈。义人祈祷所发出的力量,是大有功效的。 17 以利亚是与我们性情相同的人;他恳切祈求不要下雨,地上就三年零六个月没有雨; 18 他又祈祷,天就下雨,地就生出土产来。

19 我的弟兄们,你们中间若有人被骗离开了真道,如果有人使他回头, 20 你们应该知道,那使罪人从歧途上转回的,就会拯救他的灵魂脱离死亡,也会遮盖许多罪恶。