James 5

King James Version

Full text for James Chapter 5

1¶ Go to now, [ye] rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon [you].

2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

4Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

5Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

6Ye have condemned [and] killed the just; [and] he doth not resist you.

7Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

8Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

9Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

10Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

12¶ But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

13Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

19Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

James 5 begins with a stern warning to the wealthy, condemning their ill-gotten riches, oppression of laborers, and luxurious living, foretelling their coming judgment. It then exhorts believers to patience and steadfastness in anticipation of the Lord's return, drawing examples from agriculture and the prophets. The chapter also provides practical instructions on prayer for various life circumstances, including sickness and confession of sins. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of converting those who stray from the truth.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with a severe denunciation of rich oppressors, warning them of impending miseries due to their corrupted wealth, defrauding of laborers, and wanton living. Their unrighteous accumulation of treasure and condemnation of the just will serve as a witness against them before the Lord of sabaoth. Following this, believers are exhorted to cultivate patience and establish their hearts, awaiting the Lord's coming, much like a farmer waits for the harvest. Examples of enduring prophets, such as Job, are presented to illustrate the blessedness of perseverance and God's tender mercy. Furthermore, the epistle strictly forbids all oaths, urging simple truthfulness in speech. Practical guidance is given for prayer in affliction, merriment, and sickness, including the anointing with oil by church elders, promising healing and forgiveness through the prayer of faith. The power of righteous prayer is underscored by the example of Elijah, and the chapter concludes by commending the act of converting a sinner from error, which saves a soul from death and hides a multitude of sins.

Long Summary

James 5 commences with a direct and severe address to the rich, commanding them to weep and howl for the miseries that shall befall them. Their accumulated wealth, specifically their corrupted riches, motheaten garments, and cankered gold and silver, are declared to be a witness against them, destined to consume their flesh like fire, as they have hoarded treasure for the last days. A primary charge against them is the fraudulent withholding of wages from their laborers, whose cries have reached the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. They are further condemned for living in pleasure and wantonness, nourishing their hearts for a day of slaughter, and for condemning and killing the just who offer no resistance. Transitioning from this judgment, the epistle then exhorts the brethren to be patient until the coming of the Lord, likening their waiting to a husbandman's patient expectation for the precious fruit of the earth, enduring until the early and latter rains. Believers are urged to establish their hearts, as the Lord's coming draws nigh, and to avoid grudging one against another, for the Judge stands at the door. The prophets, who suffered affliction with patience, are presented as examples, and the patience of Job is highlighted, revealing the Lord's great pity and tender mercy. A crucial admonition follows, forbidding all forms of swearing oaths—neither by heaven, earth, nor any other oath—insisting instead that speech be a simple "yea, yea" and "nay, nay" to avoid condemnation. Practical instructions for the community are then provided: the afflicted should pray, the merry should sing psalms. For the sick, the elders of the church are to be called to pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord, with the promise that the prayer of faith shall save the sick, raise them up, and forgive their sins if committed. The importance of mutual confession of faults and prayer for one another for healing is stressed, emphasizing the efficacy of a righteous man's fervent prayer, exemplified by Elijah's powerful intercession regarding rain. Finally, the chapter concludes with a powerful encouragement to convert those who err from the truth, stating that such an act saves a soul from death and hides a multitude of sins.

Core Concepts

  • Warning to the RichThe chapter opens with a stern condemnation of wealthy individuals who have amassed riches through oppression, fraud, and luxurious living, foretelling divine judgment for their unrighteousness.
  • Patience in ExpectationBelievers are exhorted to exercise patience and steadfastness, enduring afflictions and refraining from grudges, as they await the imminent coming of the Lord, drawing parallels to a farmer's waiting.
  • Prohibition of OathsA clear command is given against swearing any oaths, whether by heaven or earth, emphasizing the importance of simple, truthful communication: "yea" for yes and "nay" for no.
  • Prayer for Healing and ForgivenessInstructions are provided for the sick to call for church elders, who are to pray over them and anoint them with oil, with the promise that the prayer of faith brings healing and forgiveness of sins.
  • Efficacy of Righteous PrayerThe power of fervent prayer from a righteous person is highlighted through the example of Elijah, whose prayers effectively controlled rain, demonstrating its significant impact.
  • Restoring the ErringThe chapter concludes with an encouragement to convert those who stray from the truth, emphasizing that such an act saves a soul from spiritual death and covers a multitude of sins.