James
Chapter 5
Overview
James closes his letter with a sharp warning to wealthy landowners who have grown comfortable by cheating their workers. He then turns to his fellow believers, urging them to wait patiently for the Lord’s return, much as a farmer waits for rain and a harvest. The ancient prophets and Job offer examples of endurance. From there, James moves into practical community life: speak honestly, pray in hardship, sing in happiness, care for the sick, admit wrongs, and help wandering people return to the truth. Patience here is not passive; like a seed underground, it is quietly alive.
1Now listen, you rich people! Weep and howl because of the misery that is coming upon you.
2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
3Your gold and silver have corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have piled up treasure in these last days.
4Look! You withheld the wages of the workers who harvested your fields, and those wages are crying out. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord who commands heaven’s armies.
5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter.
6You condemned and killed an innocent person. Does he not oppose you?
7So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord comes. Think of a farmer waiting for the land’s precious crop. The farmer waits patiently through the season’s early and late rains.
8You must also be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
9Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, or you may be judged. Look—the Judge is standing at the door.
10Brothers and sisters, take the prophets as your example of suffering and patience. They spoke as representatives of the Lord.
11We consider those who endured to be fortunate. You have heard how Job endured, and you have seen the outcome the Lord brought about. The Lord is deeply compassionate and merciful.
12Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear an oath by heaven, by earth, or by anything else. Say “yes” when you mean yes and “no” when you mean no, so that you do not come under judgment.
13Is anyone among you suffering? That person should pray. Is anyone cheerful? That person should sing praise.
14Is anyone among you sick? That person should call for the leaders of the community of believers. They should pray over the sick person and put olive oil on them in the Lord’s name.
15The prayer offered in trust will restore the sick person, and the Lord will raise that person up. Even if they have committed sins, they will be forgiven.
16So admit your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a person who lives rightly is very powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a human being like us. He prayed intensely that it would not rain, and no rain fell on the land for three years and six months.
18Then he prayed again. The sky gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders away from the truth and someone brings that person back,
20understand this: whoever brings a sinner back from the wrong path will save that person’s life from death and cause many sins to be forgiven.