James 4:6-5:9

New International Version

⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,^(B) and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you.^(C) Wash your hands,^(D) you sinners, and purify your hearts,^(E) you double-minded.^{(F) 9} Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.^{(G) 10} Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.^(H)

¹¹ Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.^(I) Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister^[b] or judges them^(J) speaks against the law^(K) and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,^(L) but sitting in judgment on it. ¹² There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,^(M) the one who is able to save and destroy.^(N) But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?^(O)

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen,^(P) you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^{(Q) 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.^{(R) 15} Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,^(S) we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.^{(T) 17} If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.^(U)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,^(V) you rich people,^(W) weep and wail^(X) because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.^{(Y) 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.^{(Z) 4} Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers^(AA) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries^(AB) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.^{(AC) 5} You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves^(AD) in the day of slaughter.^{[c](AE) 6} You have condemned and murdered^(AF) the innocent one,^(AG) who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.^(AH) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting^(AI) for the autumn and spring rains.^{(AJ) 8} You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming^(AK) is near.^{(AL) 9} Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,^(AM) or you will be judged. The Judge^(AN) is standing at the door!^(AO)