JAMES Chapter 5 - Warning To Rich Oppressors

Warning To Rich Oppressors

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 HORDED 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 harvester 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.

Patience In Suffering

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,'

OR YOU WILL BE CONDEMNED.

13Is there any one f you in Trouble?

He should pray.

Is anyone happy?

Let him singsongs 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

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 A MULTITUDE OF SINS.

(James 5)