James 5

1 Come now [at this present time], you who are rich [wealthy, having an abundance of material possessions], weep [cry out loudly, mourn] and wail [howl, lament] over the misery [suffering, wretchedness] to come [that shall arrive, invade] upon you [against you, upon your lives]. word study 2 Your [corrupted, unclean] riches [wealth, worldly possessions] have rotted [perished, decayed] and moths [insects, small destructive creatures] have eaten your [fine, moth-eaten] clothes [garments, clothing]. word study 3 Your gold [valuable metal, wealth] and silver [precious treasure] are corroded [wasted, cankered]. Their corrosion [rust, poison] will testify [be a witness] against you and consume [eat away, destroy] your flesh [physical body, human nature] like fire [divine judgment, purification]. You have hoarded [stored up, amassed] treasure [riches, wealth] in the last days [final times, end of the age]. word study 4 Look, the wages [payment for labor, compensation] you withheld [kept back by fraud, cheated] from the workmen [laborers, field workers] who mowed [reaped, harvested] your fields are crying out [shouting, loudly protesting] against you. The cries [outcries, shouts for help] of the harvesters [reapers, those who gather] have reached [entered, come into] the ears [the hearing, the attention] of the Lord [the supreme Master] of Hosts [Sabaoth, the armies of heaven]. word study 5 You have lived [in luxury, delicately] on earth [the soil, the globe] in luxury [to self-indulge] and self-indulgence [excess, wantonness]. You have fattened [nourished] your hearts [the seat of thoughts, feelings] in the day [a 24-hour period, a period of time] of slaughter [butchering, destruction]. word study 6 You have [judged guilty, condemned to death] condemned and murdered [killed intentionally, taken the life of] the righteous [just, fair, and innocent], who did not [in no way, utterly refused to] resist [stand against, oppose] you. word study 7 Be patient [enduring, forbearing], then, brothers [fellow believers, brethren], until [waiting for, anticipating] the Lord’s [Master, God] coming [arrival, presence]. See [behold, observe] how the farmer [husbandman, agricultural worker] awaits [waits for, expects] the precious [valuable, highly esteemed] fruit [harvest, crop] of the soil [earth, ground]—how patient [long-spirited, tolerant] he is for [waiting for, until] the fall [early] and spring [late] rains [showers, precipitation]. word study 8 You [also], too, be patient [and wait calmly, having endurance] and strengthen [establish, settle firmly] your hearts [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], because [since, for the reason that] the Lord’s [Master, God] coming [presence, arrival] is near [at hand, drawing closer]. word study 9 Do not [murmur, grudge, or complain] complain about one another, brothers [fellow believers, siblings in Christ], so that you will not [be condemned, judged, or punished] be judged. Look [see, behold, perceive], the Judge [the righteous One, the ultimate authority] is standing [waiting, ready, at the point of action] at the door [the entrance, the threshold, the point of access]! word study 10 Brothers [fellow believers, my brethren], as an example [pattern to follow, model] of patience [longsuffering, endurance] in affliction [suffering, hardship], take [consider, receive] the prophets [messengers of God, spokesmen] who spoke [uttered, proclaimed] in the name [authority, character] of the Lord [God, Master]. word study 11 See how blessed [happy, fortunate] we consider those who have persevered [endured, remained faithful]. You have heard of Job’s [the patriarch who suffered greatly] perseverance [patience, endurance] and have seen the outcome [end result, conclusion] from the Lord [God, the Master]. The Lord [God, full of authority] is full of compassion [very pitiful, merciful] and mercy [tender kindness, pity]. word study 12 Above all [before all things, in every matter], my brothers [fellow believers, brethren], do not swear [take an oath, make a vow], not by heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] or earth [the land, the world] or by any other oath [promise, pledge]. Simply let your “Yes” be yes [a simple yes, without condition], and your “No,” no [a simple no, without hesitation], so that you will not fall [stumble, collapse] under judgment [condemnation, God’s displeasure]. word study 13 Is any one of you [among you, suffering evil] suffering [enduring hardship]? He should [let him] pray [to God]. Is anyone [one] cheerful [of good cheer, merry]? He should [let him] sing [psalms] praises [songs of praise, to God]. word study 14 Is any one of you [among you] sick [weak, feeble]? He should call [summon, invite] the elders [respected leaders] of the church [assembly, community] to pray [worship, ask for healing] over him and anoint [put oil on] him with oil [olive oil] in the name [authority, character] of the Lord [God, Master]. word study 15 And the prayer [of faith, trusting in God] offered in faith [confidence and trust in God’s power] will restore [heal, make whole] the one who is sick [weak, weary]. The Lord [God, the supreme authority] will raise him up [lift him up, revive him]. If he has sinned [committed wrong, missed the mark], he will be forgiven [his sins will be released, pardoned]. word study 16 Therefore confess [acknowledge, agree with God about] your sins [trespasses, faults] to each other [one another] and pray [wish for] for each other [one another] so that you may be healed [made whole, cured]. The prayer [petition, supplication] of a righteous [just] man has great power [is very strong] to prevail [be effective, accomplish much]. word study 17 Elijah [a prophet and man of God] was a man [of flesh and blood, with human nature] just like us [subject to like passions]. He prayed [fervently, with strong emotion] earnestly [with intense desire] that it would not rain [or send forth showers], and it did not rain [no showers came] on the land [the earth, the ground] for three [a period of testing] and a half years [a time of waiting]. word study 18 Again [once more, anew] he prayed [to God, worshiping Him], and the heavens [the sky, God’s dwelling place] gave [bestowed, granted] rain [a shower, precipitation], and the earth [the land, soil] yielded [produced, brought forth] its crops [fruit, harvest, the product of the land]. word study 19 My brothers [fellow believers, brethren], if one of you [any among you, someone] should wander [go astray, err] from the truth [the reality of God’s Word, the true faith] and someone [one, a person] should bring him back [turn him back, convert him], word study 20 consider this: Whoever turns [converts, rescues] a sinner [one who misses the mark, a wrongdoer] from the error [deceit, straying] of his way will save [deliver, preserve] his soul [the breath of life, the seat of emotions] from death [physical or spiritual separation] and cover over [hide, forgive] a multitude [a large number, a crowd] of sins [missing the mark, falling short]. word study