James 5:1-20 NIV
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.a
6 You have condemned and murdered the Innocent
One, Who was not opposing you.
Patience in Suffering
7Be
patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s 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 Lord’s Coming is near. 9Don’t
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 Job’s
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.
The rich are in danger
of God's judgments, because of their pride, fraudulent dealings, riotous
living, and cruelty, James 5:1-6.
The oppressed followers of God should be patient, for the Lord's Coming is
nigh; and should not grudge against each other, James 5:7-9. They should
take encouragement from the example of the prophets, and of Job, James 5:10, James 5:11. Swearing forbidden, James 5:12. Directions to the afflicted, James 5:13-15. They should
confess their faults to each other, James 5:16. The great prevalence of prayer
instanced in Elijah, James 5:17, James 5:18. The blessedness of converting
a sinner from the error of his way, James 5:19,James 5:20.
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