James 5

Warning to the Rich

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Patience in Suffering

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers,t 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 the early and the late rains.8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

12 But above all, my brothers, 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 sing praise.14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, 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 if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.t17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

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

James 5

Warning to the Rich

1 Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloudt over the miseries that are coming on you.2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten.3 Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure!t4 Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.5 You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.s

6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you.t

Patience in Suffering

7 So be patient, brothers and sisters,t until the Lord’s return.t Think of how the farmer waitst for the precious fruit of the ground and is patientt for it until it receives the early and late rains.8 You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,t so that you may not be judged. See, the judge stands before the gates!s10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters,t take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name.11 Think of how we regardt as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.s

12 And above all, my brothers and sisters,t 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 into judgment.

Prayer for the Sick

13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises.14 Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anointt 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 if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.t16 So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.t17 Elijah was a human beingt like us, and he prayed earnestlyt that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months!

18 Thent he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land sprouted with a harvest.
19 My brothers and sisters,t if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,

20 he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering patht will save that person’st soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.