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James 5

World English Bible

WEB

1Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you. 2Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3Your gold and your silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be for a testimony against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up your treasure in the last days. 4Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you have kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of those who reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Armies. 5You have lived in luxury on the earth, and taken your pleasure. You have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6You have condemned and you have murdered the righteous one. He doesn’t resist you. 7Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain. 8You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9Don’t grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won’t be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door. 10Take, brothers, for an example of suffering and of perseverance, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11Behold, we call them blessed who endured. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and have seen the Lord in the outcome, and how the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. 12But above all things, my brothers, don’t swear—not by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath; but let your “yes” be “yes”, and your “no”, “no”, so that you don’t fall into hypocrisy. 13Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. 14Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. 17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18He prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19Brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, 20let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

James Chapter 5 addresses various themes, including the dangers of wealth, the importance of patience in suffering, and the power of prayer. The chapter opens with a stern warning to the rich, condemning their hoarding of wealth and exploitation of the laborers. James emphasizes that their riches will ultimately decay and serve as a testimony against them on the Day of Judgment. This serves as a reminder that earthly treasures are temporary, and true wealth is found in a relationship with God. The call to repentance is clear, as James urges the wealthy to weep and mourn over their actions, highlighting the moral responsibility that comes with prosperity. #Wealth #Judgment #Repentance
The chapter then shifts focus to the believers, encouraging them to be patient in their suffering, drawing parallels to the prophets and Job, who endured trials with steadfast faith. James reminds the faithful that the Lord is compassionate and merciful, urging them to remain steadfast until the coming of the Lord. He uses the metaphor of a farmer waiting for the precious fruit of the earth to illustrate the need for patience. Finally, James emphasizes the power of prayer, stating that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. He encourages believers to pray for one another, confess their sins, and seek healing, reinforcing the community aspect of faith. This chapter concludes with a call to restore those who wander from the truth, highlighting the importance of accountability and love within the body of Christ. #Patience #Prayer #Community

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Referenced by

  1. Genesis 20:7v16Genesis 20:7 highlights the power of prayer as God instructs Abimelech to have Abraham pray for him, which aligns with James 5:16 that emphasizes the effectiveness of a righteous person's prayer.
  2. Exodus 17:11v16Exodus 17:11 shows the power of intercession as Moses' hands are held up, leading to Israel's victory. James 5:16 emphasizes the effectiveness of fervent prayer.
  3. Numbers 12:13v16In Numbers 12:13, Moses intercedes for Miriam, praying for her healing. James 5:16 encourages believers to pray for one another for healing, demonstrating the power and importance of intercessory prayer.
  4. Deuteronomy 24:14-15v4Deuteronomy 24:14-15 commands fair treatment and timely payment of wages to laborers, a principle echoed in James 5:4, where the cries of the unpaid workers reach the ears of the Lord.
  5. 1 Samuel 7:5v161 Samuel 7:5 describes Samuel interceding for Israel, similar to the call in James 5:16 for believers to pray for one another, highlighting the power of intercessory prayer.
  6. 1 Samuel 12:23v161 Samuel 12:23 emphasizes Samuel's commitment to pray for the people, which aligns with James 5:16 that encourages believers to pray for one another, underscoring the importance of intercessory prayer.
  7. 1 Kings 17:1v171 Kings 17:1 introduces Elijah the prophet, who declares a drought by the word of the Lord. James 5:17 references this event to illustrate the power of prayer and the righteousness of Elijah.
  8. 1 Kings 18:24v171 Kings 18:24 describes Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal, calling on God to answer by fire. James 5:17-18 references Elijah's fervent prayer and God's response, highlighting the power of prayer.
  9. 2 Kings 20:5v152 Kings 20:5 records God's promise to heal Hezekiah in response to his prayer, similar to James 5:15, which speaks of the prayer of faith saving the sick.
  10. 1 Chronicles 4:10v161 Chronicles 4:10 highlights Jabez's earnest prayer to God, which is answered. James 5:16 emphasizes the power of a righteous person's prayer, showing the effectiveness of sincere prayer.
  11. Job 42:10v11Job 42:10 describes the restoration of Job's fortunes after he prayed for his friends, which is highlighted in James 5:11 as an example of perseverance and the Lord's compassion.
  12. Psalms 10:17v4Psalm 10:17 speaks of God hearing the desire of the afflicted, which is similar to James 5:4, where the cries of the oppressed reach the ears of the Lord Almighty.
  13. Proverbs 22:16v1Proverbs 22:16 warns against oppressing the poor to increase wealth, a theme that James 5:1-6 expands upon by condemning the rich who exploit and oppress the poor.
  14. Ecclesiastes 7:8v11Ecclesiastes 7:8 speaks of the end of a matter being better than its beginning, similar to James 5:11, which highlights the perseverance of Job and the outcome of the Lord's dealings.
  15. Ezekiel 14:20v16Ezekiel 14:20 emphasizes that even the righteousness of Noah, Daniel, and Job could not save others, paralleling James 5:16 which underscores the power of a righteous person's prayer but also the need for personal repentance.
  16. Daniel 10:12v16Daniel 10:12 highlights the power of prayer, as Daniel's words were heard from the first day he set his heart to understand. This is echoed in James 5:16, which states that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
  17. Zechariah 10:1v7Zechariah 10:1 encourages asking the Lord for rain, symbolizing reliance on God for provision. James 5:7-8 similarly speaks of waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, emphasizing patience and trust in God's timing.

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