James 5 (BHT-ATN)

“Now Listen Carefully, You Who Are Rich!”

1 Now listen carefully, you who are rich! Weep and wail because of the miseries that are to come upon you! 2 Your riches are doomed to rot away, and your fine clothing is as good as eaten away by moths.+ 3 Your gold and silver are destined to rust, and the corrosion that eats away at them will be used as evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth+ in the latter+ days! 4 Listen! The wages owed to the workers who swung the sickle+ in your fields, which have been deceitfully withheld:+ It is against you that they are crying out! The outcry of the harvesters has reached the very ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies himself! 5 You have gorged yourselves in the land+ and lived lives of luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves+ up for the day of slaughter.+ 6 You are responsible for the condemnation and murder of the innocent.+ God will certainly oppose you, will he not?+

“Be Patient, Brothers and Sisters, until the Lord Returns”

7 In light of all these things, be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord returns. Consider how patient the farmer is as he waits for the land to yield its precious harvest, as he waits for the sowing-time rains of autumn and the springtime rains that ripen the harvest.+ 8 You, too, must be patient. Be strong and don’t give up,+ because the Lord’s return is drawing near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you won’t be condemned.+ Look! The judge is standing right at the door! 10 As an example, brothers and sisters, of patience in times of suffering,+ take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Think of how we regard as blessed those who patiently endured. You have heard about the patient endurance, for instance, of Job, and know what the Lord himself did in the end, compassionate and merciful as the Lord is.

12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, you must be careful not to use oaths when making promises.++ You must not swear+ “by heaven,” or “by the earth,” or by any other sacred place or thing.+ Instead, your “Yes” is to simply mean “Yes,” and your “No” is to simply mean “No,” lest you come under judgment.+

13 Is anyone among you suffering hardship? He must keep on praying. Is someone feeling encouraged? He should sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the assembly, and they should pray over him, anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will rescue+ the sick person. The Lord will restore him to health,+ and if he has committed any sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for each other, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful and effective.+ 17 Take Elijah, for example. Although he was no less weak and human than we are,+ he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and rain didn’t fall+ on the land for three and a half years. 18 And then he prayed once again, and the sky+ did send rain, and the land yielded its fruit.

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you strays from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 the one who brings him back+ can be sure of this: Whoever brings a sinner back from the deceitful path he has taken+ will save that person+ from death and “cover a multitude of sins.”+

+1:1Cf CJB.+1:2Unless otherwise marked (through superscript—ˢyou), all second person pronouns are in the second person plural.+1:2The word used here (πειρασμός [ peirasmos]) can mean “trial” (see, eg, L-N, 27.46), “temptation” (see, eg, L-N, 88.308), or both. The context (cf vv 12-15) indicates that both are in view here. Cf the NLT at v 12.+1:5Lit lacks wisdom. ME(OTB)/IT (see BDAG, 934, sv σοφία 1.b.α.; TWOT, 283, sv khokmaw; UBSHS [Jm], 15). “Wisdom” has still been used in translation later in the verse.+1:5Lit it. See note at “discernment” above.+1:8Lit double-minded. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 19). Cf NLT; Phps.+1:9Lit boast. ME (see translation and notes at 2 Co 2:14).+1:9Cf Jb 1:8; Re 2:9.+1:10Lit boast. “Boast” is used here in a sense opposite to v 9 (see translation and note there).+1:10Lit a blossom/flower of grass. ME (see BDAG, 80, sv ἄνθος; BSL, Jm 1:10, sv χόρτος; UBSHS [Jm], 25). Cf HCSB, ISV, NIV, NRSV.+1:10Is 40:6. Cf Ps 37, 49, 73.+1:11Lit the beauty of the face of it. ME (see BDAG, 410, sv εὐπρέπεια; L-N, 24.24; UBSHS [Jm], 27).+1:11Lit For the sun rises with scorching heat and dries up the grass and its flower falls off and the beauty of the face of it is destroyed. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 26-7). Cf CJB, Phps, NEB, NRSV, REB. Koine Greek often uses parataxis in places where English prefers hypotaxis (see BDAG, 494, sv καί 1.b.β-ζ.; BDF, §471; Wallace, Grammar, 19; NET Bible Notes, Mk 10:28). Also, the verbs used here are in the aorist tense, which, in addition to functioning gnomically, may also be functioning to give a sense of certainty.+1:12The word used here (πειρασμός [ peirasmos]) can mean “trial” (see, eg, L-N, 27.46), “temptation” (see, eg, L-N, 88.308), or both. The context indicates that both are in view here. Cf NLT.+1:12Lit he.+1:12Lit those who love. ME (see notes at Mt 10:37; Lk 14:26; Jn 12:5; 1 Co 16:22; UBSHS [Jn], 406; UBSHS [Jm], 31). Cf 2 Ti 2:12-13; Re 2-3.+1:13Lit is without temptation of evil things. ME (see ANLEX, 62, sv ἀπείραστος).+1:14Cf Gn 4:7.+1:14Lit he. ME/IT (see UBSHS [Jm], 35).+1:15Cf Gn 6, 15:16, 18:16-19:29; Mt 23:29-39; Lk 11:47-51; 1 Th 2:16; 2 Pt 2.+1:17Cf Gn 1:14-15; Ps 8, 19; Is 40:22-26.+1:17Lit with whom there is no change or shadow of turning. ME (see FSB, Jm 1:17; L-N, 58.44; UBSHS [Jm], 36).+1:18Lit bore us/gave us birth. ME (see ANLEX, 68, ἀποκυέω 2; BDAG, 114, sv ἀποκυέω b.; BSL, Jm 1:18, sv ἀποκυέω; L-N, 13.87; UBSHS [Jm], 37). Cf, eg, 2 Co 5:17.+1:18Or word.+1:18Lit so that we would be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. ME(OTB)/IT (see LBD, sv firstfruits; UBSHS [Jm], 38). Cf, eg, Ex 23:19; Lv 2:12; Dt 26:2.+1:20The word used here (ὀργή [ orgē]—“wrath,” “fury,” “anger”) in this context means an anger joined with and/or fueled by pride and arrogance, and is contrasted below with a disposition that is “humble/gentle/even-tempered” (v 21) (see UBSHS [Jm], 45). In English, however, anger isn’t usually contrasted with humility. Hence, both anger and pride have been activated in translation here, with the contrast in the next verse corresponding on both levels.+1:21Or any remaining hint of wickedness, or the wickedness that is so rampant [around you]. Cf v 27.+1:21Lit the implanted word. ME/IT (see UBSHS [Jm], 47). Cf, eg, Mt 13:19.+1:21Or deliver.+1:21Lit save your souls. In the NT, ψυχή ( psuchē, “soul”) is often used to refer to the person as a whole, not just the inward self (see, eg, L-N, 9.20). Cf HCSB, NCV, NIV, TEV.+1:22Or teaching, or word.+1:22Lit Become doers of the word and not merely/only hearers, deceiving yourselves. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 47-8). Cf CJB, GeCL, Gdspd, NET, NIV, NLT, TNT, TEV.+1:23Lit the face of his existence, or the face of his birth. ME(I/F) (see L-N, 13.71; UBSHS [Jm], 49). Cf LEB, HCSB, NET.+1:24Lit ...in a mirror. For he looks at himself and leaves and immediately forgets. Following the lead of the CEV in the choice of structuring here. Koine Greek often uses parataxis in places where some sort of hypotactic relationship is implied, and/or where English may prefer hypotaxis (see BDAG, 494, sv καί 1.b.β-ζ.; BDF, §471; Wallace, Grammar, 19; NET Bible Notes, Mk 10:28).+1:25Some sort of slavery/oppression is implied here. Jm 2:12-13, and NT teaching more generally (see, eg, Jn 8, Rm 6), make it clear that freedom from sin and its penalty are meant here.+1:25Cf Mt 5:17-20; Jn 8; Ga 4.+1:25Lit not a hearer of forgetfulness, but a doer of action/work. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 52). Cf Gdspd; NCV, NIV, NLT, TEV.+1:25Or in, or as a result of. Cf NLT; L-N, 89.26, 89.48.+1:26Lit does not bridle. ME (see L-N, 8.85). Cf NIV.+1:26Cf Jr 17:9.+1:26Lit is futile. ME (see UBSHS [2 Pt], 133; translation and notes at Rm 1:21; Eph 4:17).+1:27Lit is this.+2:1Lit not accepting face. ME(I/F) (see translation and notes at Mt 22:16; L-N, 88.238, 88.239).+2:1Lit have, or hold. ME. Cf CJB, ISV.+2:2Lit and comes in also.+2:4Or shown favoritism among yourselves.+2:5ME(OTB)/IT (see translation and notes at Mt 5:3). Cf, eg, Ps 34:6.+2:5Cf Re 2:9.+2:5Lit who love. ME (see notes at Mt 10:37; Lk 14:26; Jn 12:5; 1 Co 16:22; UBSHS [Jn], 406; UBSHS [Jm], 31). The meaning is the same here as at v 1:12, with affliction and trial assumed in the poverty (cf, eg, v 1:9 above; Re 2:9-11).+2:6Or have dishonored.+2:7Lit the name that was called upon you. ME (see BDAG, 363, sv ἐπί 1.c.γ.; Ibid, 373, sv ἐπικαλέω 2; L-N, 11.28; NET Bible Notes, Jm 2:7).+2:8Or law, or instruction. The Scripture quotation that follows indicates that a specific Torah command is in view here.+2:8Or according to. Cf REB and TNT in ESS (Jm), 78; HCSB, NIV, TEV.+2:8Lv 19:18+2:9Lit accept a face. ME(I/F) (see translation and notes at Mt 22:16; L-N, 88.238).+2:9Intentionality and willfulness are implied in the verb used here (lit “working sin”) (see UBSHS [Jm], 74).+2:9Or the Law.+2:9Lit convicted by the Law as transgressors. ME (see BSL, Jm 2:9, sv ἐλέγχω; UBSHS [Ga], 48; UBSHS [Jm], 74; translation and note at Ga 2:18).+2:10Or the Law.+2:10Lit stumbles.+2:10Lit he has become guilty of all things. ME (see BDAG, 338, sv ἔνοχος 2.b.γ.).+2:11Ex 20:14; Dt 5:18+2:11Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17+2:11Or the Law, or the written code.+2:11Lit If you don’t commit adultery, but commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the Law. ME/IT (see UBSHS [Jm], 76). Cf, eg, Gn 20:6, 39:9; 2 Sm 12:13; Ps 51:4.+2:12Lit like [people] going to be judged by the law of freedom. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 77; translation and note at v1:25 above). The context (see vv 10-11, 13) makes it clear that those standing in court are already guilty and therefore in need of mercy. Cf Mt 5:7, 6:12-15; Lk 6:36; Rm 2.+2:13Or judgment, or verdict.+2:13Or over judgment, or over punishment.+2:15Lit naked. ME (see ANLEX, 102, sv γυμνός 1.b.). Cf ESV, LEB, NET.+2:16Lit do not give them the needful things of the body. ME (see BDAG, 383, sv ἐπιτήδειος; UBSHS [Jm], 86). Cf NIV, TEV.+2:18Lit Show me your faith without deeds. ME//IT (see UBSHS [Jm], 89).+2:19Lit You do well. EFE. Cf REB in ESS (Jm), 97; CJB, ISV, NCV, NIV, NLT, TEV.+2:21Or forefather. Lit father.+2:21Cf Gn 22:12: “...for now I know that you fear God, seeing that you have not withheld your son” (ESV). Cf also Gn 22:16-17: “Because you have done this...I will surely bless you” (ESV).+2:21Cf Gn 22:12-18.+2:23Gn 15:6.+2:23Cf 2 Ch 20:7, Is 41:8.+2:25Cf Jsh 6:13: “But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute...because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho” (NIV).+2:26Or without spirit.+3:1Or my brothers and sisters*.+3:1Lit will receive greater judgment. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 101). Cf ESV, ISV, NCV, NKJV, NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV, RSV, TEV.+3:2Lit stumble.+3:2Lit not stumble.+3:2Lit able to bridle. ME (see L-N, 8.85). Cf NIV at Jm 1:26.+3:2Lit able to bridle the whole body, too. ME/IT (see UBSHS [Jm], 103).+3:4Lit and being driven by strong winds. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 105). Cf ISV, NRSV.+3:5Lit Behold how much [ie, small] a fire ignites how much [ie, large] a forest. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 107).+3:6Lit as the world. ME (see L-N, 59.55).+3:6Lit which (with “tongue” as the antecedent).+3:6Lit the whole body. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 110). Cf NIV, TEV.+3:6Lit to the wheel of origin/existence. ME (see BDAG, 192, sv γένεσις 2.b.; UBSHS [Jm], 111). Cf ESV, ISV, LEB, NAB, NASB, NET, NIV, NLT, REB, TEV.+3:8Lit no one of men.+3:9Lit on men. ME.+3:10Lit It is not fitting, my brothers, for these things to happen thus. ME (see Adamson in ESS [Jm], 131; UBSHS [Jm], 117).+3:11Lit sweet. ME. Cf ESV, ISV, LEB, NASB, NET, NIV, NRSV, RSV.+3:13Lit Who is wise and understanding among you? ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 121). Cf NCV, TEV. V 14 makes it clear that a boastful/self-exalting attitude/claim is implied here. James’ challenge to “prove it” in the next sentence also seems to imply a claim here.+3:15Lit earthly. ME (see BDAG, 368, sv ἐπίγειος 1.a.).+3:15Lit natural. ME (see ANLEX, 414, sv ψυχικός 2; UBSHS [1 Co], 61). Jude 19 makes it clear what is meant by ψυχική ( psuchikē) here. Cf NIV, NCV, and TEV at 1 Co 2:14.+3:16Lit there/at that place is. Cf NLT, TEV.+3:18Lit The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by/for those who make peace. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 129-31). Cf CEV, NLT, TEV.+4:1Lit From where wars and from where fights among you? ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 134).+4:1Lit in/among your members.+4:2IT (see Blue in ESS [Jm], 150). In this clause οὐκ ἔχετε ( ouk echete) is used again in reference to asking things from God. This implies that some of the things that are strongly desired are not bad or illegitimate in and of themselves, but become a source of contention because of the evil in people’s hearts. However, because of the negative connotations connected with desire in this context (“sinful and selfish” in v 1; “covet” in v 2b), and because of the connotations of illegitimacy activated by “covet,” by the time we get to this statement it sounds a bit like James is giving the reason why their evil desires aren’t fulfilled, which is obviously not the case. Therefore “good” has been included in translation here.+4:3Lit You ask and don’t receive, because you ask badly. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 139-40).+4:4Cf Is 63:10.+4:5Lit that the Scripture says in vain. ME (see UBSHS [Jm]), 142.+4:5Or that the Spirit that God caused to dwell in/among us yearns jealously? Or that God longs jealously for the spirit he caused to dwell in us? Cf Gn 6:5, 8:21; Ex 20:5, 34:14; Dt 4:24, 6:15; Ps 51:10; Ne 9:20; Is 63:10-14; Hg 2:5; Zc 8:2.+4:6Lit But he gives more grace. ME(OTB) (see translation and notes at Jn 1:14; BDAG, 1079, sv χάρις 2; LALS, sv χάρις; L-N, 88.66; UBSHS [1 Pt], 164).+4:6Lit gives grace. ME(OTB) (see translation and notes at Jn 1:14; BDAG, 1079, sv χάρις 2; LALS, sv χάρις; L-N, 88.66; UBSHS [1 Pt], 164).+4:6Pr 3:34+4:8Lit your hearts. ME(H/OTB)/IT (see translation and notes at Mk 3:15 and Rm 1:21).+4:8Lit you double-minded. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 19). Cf NLT.+4:11Lit you are not a doer of the law/instruction/ordinance, but a judge. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 155).+4:14Lit who do not know the thing/circumstance of tomorrow. ME. Cf ESV, HCSB, ISV, NRSV.+4:15Lit we will live (ie, remain alive).+4:16Lit you boast. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 162). Cf Mfft.+4:16Lit all such boasting.+5:2Lit have become moth-eaten. Cf NCV, TEV.+5:3Lit You have stored up [treasure/wealth]. Negative connotations are clearly present in this context. Cf NET, NIV.+5:3Or last.+5:4Lit who mowed, or who cut down. ME(H) (see L-N, 43.13).+5:4Cf Lv 19:13; Dt 24:14-15; Jr 22:13; Ml 3:5.+5:5Or on the earth. Cf Is 5:8-9.+5:5Lit your hearts. In this context, “hearts” is most likely representative of the whole person (see UBSHS [Jm], 174). Cf NCV, NIV, NLT, TEV.+5:5Cf Is 34:6; Jr 12:3, 25:34, 46:10; Ezk 21:15.+5:6Or the righteous.+5:6Or He (ie, the innocent) doesn’t resist you, or He (ie, the innocent) can’t resist you. Cf TEV footnote.+5:7Lit Behold, the farmer awaits the precious crop of the earth, being patient concerning it until it receives the early [rains] and the later [rains]. ME(OTB/H)/IT (see ANLEX, 290, sv ὄψιμος; Ibid, 329, sv πρόϊμος; L-N, 14.13, 14.14; UBSHS [Jm], 180-1). Cf NCV, NIV, NLT, TEV.+5:8Lit Strengthen your hearts. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 181).+5:9Or judged.+5:10Lit of suffering and patience. The coordinated genitives here are interpreted as a hendiadys (two coordinated words expressing a unified idea). This is reflected in the translation. Cf Gdspd, NIV, NLT, NEB, REB, TEV; UBSHS (Jm), 183.+5:12Lit do not swear oaths. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 187). Cf NCV and TEV.+5:12Cf Lv 5:4; Mt 5:33-37.+5:12Lit not by.+5:12Lit by any other oath. ME (see UBSHS [Jm], 187). Cf, eg, Mt 5:35, 23:16-22.+5:12Cf Jg 11:30-40.+5:15While σῴζω ( sōzō) does at times refer to bodily healing in the NT (see, eg, Mk 6:56), in Mt 1:21 it is also used with “sins” (“he will save his people from their sins”). Since both bodily healing and forgiveness of sins are mentioned in this context, a more general term that applies to both has been used in translation here.+5:15Lit will raise him up [from sickness]. ME (see BDAG, 272, sv ἐγείρω 8).+5:16Lit The petition of a righteous person has power much, being effective. ME. Cf CJB, ISV, NIV, NRSV.+5:17Lit he was a man of like nature/feeling/suffering to us. ME (see ANLEX, 281, sv ὁμοιοπαθής; UBSHS [Jm], 195).+5:17Lit and it did not rain. Cf TEV.+5:18Or heaven.+5:20Lit he. Restating the antecedent (see UBSHS [Jm], 197) in translation for the sake of clarity.+5:20Lit from the deceitful error/wandering of his path/way.+5:20Lit his soul. In the NT, ψυχή ( psuchē, “soul”) is often used to refer to the person as a whole, not just the inward self. Cf CJB; UBSHS (Jm), 197.+5:20Pr 10:12