James 5

Warning to Rich Oppressors

1 Now listen, you rich people,
weep
and
wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.

2 Your wealth has rotted,
and
moths have eaten your clothes.
3 Your 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.

4 Look!
The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields
are crying out against you.
The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
5 You have lived on earth in luxury
and
self-indulgence.
You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned
and
murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.


7 Be patient, then, brothers,
until the Lord's coming.

See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop
and
how patient he is for the autumn
and
spring rains.
8 You too, be patient
and
stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.
9 Don't grumble against each other, brothers,
or you will be judged.

The Judge is standing at the door!


10 Brothers,
as an example of patience in the face of suffering,
take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

11 As you know,
we consider 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.

12 Above all, my brothers,
do not swear—
not by heaven
or by earth
or by anything else.

Let your "Yes" be yes,
and your "No," no,
or you will be condemned.

The Prayer of Faith

13 Is any one of you in trouble?
He should pray.

Is anyone happy?
Let him sing songs of praise.

14 Is any one of you sick?
He should call the elders of the church to pray over him
and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;
the Lord will raise him up.

If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other
and
pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful
and
effective.

17 Elijah was a man just like us.
He prayed earnestly that it would not rain,
and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain,
and the earth produced its crops.

19 My brothers,
if one of you should wander from the truth
and someone should bring him back,
20 remember this:
Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death
and cover over a multitude of sins.