James 5
5
Warning to Rich Oppressors
1Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3Your 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. 4Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.#5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting 6You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Patience in Suffering
7Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lordʼs coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lordʼs coming is near. 9Donʼt grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Jobʼs perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12Above 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.
The Prayer of Faith
13Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
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James (Jacob) 5
5
Warning to the Rich
1Listen all you who are rich, for it’s time to weep and howl over the misery # 5:1 The Aramaic word can refer to demonic torment. that will overtake you! 2Your riches lie rotting, your fine clothing eaten by moths, 3and your gold and silver are corroded as a witness against you. You have hoarded up treasure for the last days but it will become a fire to burn your flesh. 4Listen! Can’t you hear the cries of the laborers # 5:4 Or “the reapers” (of your fields). over the wages you fraudulently held back from those who worked for you? # 5:4 Or “those who worked in your fields.” The cries for justice of those you’ve cheated have reached the ears of the Lord of armies! # 5:4 Or “Lord Sabaoth.”
5You have indulged yourselves with every luxury and pleasure this world offers, but you’re only stuffing your heart full for a day of slaughter. 6You have condemned and murdered good and innocent people # 5:6 Or “the righteous one,” a possible reference to the death of Jesus. who had no power to defend themselves. # 5:6 Or “will not (God) resist you?”
7Meanwhile, brothers and sisters, we must be patient and filled with expectation as we wait for the appearing # 5:7 This is the abstract Greek word parousia which can mean “arrival, presence, becoming manifest, appearing.” Parousia is taken from the present participle pareina a compound word of para (beside) and einai (to be seen, made visible). It has little to do with distance or space, but with becoming visible, such as an uncovering or revealing what is nearby. It is commonly used for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. of the Lord. Think about the farmer who has to patiently wait for the earth’s harvest as it ripens because of the early and latter rains. 8So you also, keep your hopes high and be patient, for the presence of the Lord is drawing closer. # 5:8 Or “near at hand.” The Greek word engizo is taken from the word eggus, which means to take by the hand, to throttle, or to hold the reins. (See Strong’s Concordance, Gr. 1448 and 1451.) 9Since each of you are part of God’s family never complain or grumble about each other # 5:9 Or “don’t blame others” (for your troubles). so that judgment will not come on you, for the true Judge is near and very ready to appear! # 5:9 Or “at the gate.”
10My brothers and sisters, take # 5:10 Or “receive.” the prophets as your mentors. They have prophesied in the name of the Lord # 5:10 That is, by the Lord’s authority. See also v. 14. and it brought them great sufferings, yet they patiently endured. 11We honor them as our heroes # 5:11 Or “we regard them as blessed.” because they remained faithful even while enduring great sufferings. And you have heard of all that Job went through and we can now see that the Lord ultimately treated him with wonderful kindness, revealing how tenderhearted he really is! # 5:11 See Ex. 34:6; Ps. 86:15.
12Above all we must be those who never need to verify our speech as truthful by swearing by the heavens or the earth or any other oath. # 5:12 See Matt. 5:34. But instead we must be so full of integrity that our “Yes” or “No” is convincing enough and we do not stumble into hypocrisy. # 5:12 Some Greek manuscripts read “stumble into hypocrisy,” while others have, “stumble into judgment.”
Prayer for the Sick
13Are there any believers in your fellowship suffering great hardship and distress? Encourage them to pray! # 5:13 See Luke 18:1; 1 Cor. 14:14–15. Are there happy, cheerful ones among you? Encourage them to sing out their praises! # 5:13 Or “pluck the strings of a harp” or “sing a psalm.” 14Are there any sick among you? Then ask the elders of the church to come and pray over the sick and anoint them with oil in the name of our Lord. 15And the prayer of faith # 5:15 Or “the claim of faith.” will heal the sick # 5:15 This is not the Greek usually used for sickness or disease. The word kamno can also mean “those who are weary and worn down,” and in the context could possibly refer to believers who have been arguing with each other, leaving them spiritually weak. and the Lord will raise them up, # 5:15 That is, restore them to health. This could be a subtle hint of a resurrection. and if they have committed sins # 5:15 Or “doer of sin.” There is a clear implication in this passage that the sickness (weakness) referred to is the result of sin. See also 1 Cor. 11:18–32. they will be forgiven. # 5:15 This may be speaking of the church elders who are forgiving the arguing believers and restoring them back into fellowship.
16Confess and acknowledge how you have offended one another # 5:16 As translated from the Aramaic, which uses a word that can be translated “faults” or “folly” or “offenses.” The Critical Greek text is “confess your sins.” and then pray for one another to be instantly healed, # 5:16 Or “restored.” for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer # 5:16 Or “energized prayer,” a prayer within a prayer. of a godly believer!
17Elijah was a man with human frailties, just like all of us, but he prayed and received supernatural answers. # 5:17 Or “he prayed with prayer” (intensity). He actually shut the heavens over the land so there would be no rain for three and a half years! 18Then he prayed again and the skies opened up over the land so that the rain came again and produced the harvest.
19Finally, as members of God’s beloved family, we must go after the one who wanders from the truth and bring him back. 20For the one who restores the sinning believer back to God from the error of his way, gives back to his soul # 5:20 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is similar, meaning “save his soul from death.” life from the dead, and covers over countless sins # 5:20 That is, bring about forgiveness of many sins through restoring the person back to God. To cover sins is a Hebrew concept of atonement. by their demonstration of love!
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