Warning to the Rich

¹Listen all you who are rich, for it’s time to weep and howl over the misery that will overtake you![#5:1 The Aramaic word can refer to demonic torment.]

²Your riches lie rotting, your fine clothing eaten by moths,

³and your gold and silver are corroded as a witness against you. You have hoarded up treasure for the last days but it will become a fire to burn your flesh.

⁴Listen! Can’t you hear the cries of the laborers over the wages you fraudulently held back from those who worked for you? The cries for justice of those you’ve cheated have reached the ears of the Lord of armies![#5:4 Or “the reapers” (of your fields).; #5:4 Or “those who worked in your fields.”; #5:4 Or “Lord Sabaoth.”]

⁵You have indulged yourselves with every luxury and pleasure this world offers, but you’re only stuffing your heart full for a day of slaughter.

⁶You have condemned and murdered good and innocent people who had no power to defend themselves.[#5:6 Or “the righteous one,” a possible reference to the death of Jesus.; #5:6 Or “will not (God) resist you?”]

⁷Meanwhile, brothers and sisters, we must be patient and filled with expectation as we wait for the appearing of the Lord. Think about the farmer who has to patiently wait for the earth’s harvest as it ripens because of the early and latter rains.[#5:7 This is the abstract Greek word parousia which can mean “arrival, presence, becoming manifest, appearing.” Parousia is taken from the present participle pareina a compound word of para (beside) and einai (to be seen, made visible). It has little to do with distance or space, but with becoming visible, such as an uncovering or revealing what is nearby. It is commonly used for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.]

⁸So you also, keep your hopes high and be patient, for the presence of the Lord is drawing closer.[#5:8 Or “near at hand.” The Greek word engizo is taken from the word eggus , which means to take by the hand, to throttle, or to hold the reins. (See Strong’s Concordance , Gr. 1448 and 1451.)]

⁹Since each of you are part of God’s family never complain or grumble about each other so that judgment will not come on you, for the true Judge is near and very ready to appear![#5:9 Or “don’t blame others” (for your troubles).; #5:9 Or “at the gate.”]

¹⁰My brothers and sisters, take the prophets as your mentors. They have prophesied in the name of the Lord and it brought them great sufferings , yet they patiently endured.[#5:10 Or “receive.”; #5:10 That is, by the Lord’s authority. See also v. 14.]

¹¹We honor them as our heroes because they remained faithful even while enduring great sufferings. And you have heard of all that Job went through and we can now see that the Lord ultimately treated him with wonderful kindness, revealing how tenderhearted he really is![#5:11 Or “we regard them as blessed.”; #5:11 See Ex. 34:6; Ps. 86:15.]

¹²Above all we must be those who never need to verify our speech as truthful by swearing by the heavens or the earth or any other oath. But instead we must be so full of integrity that our “Yes” or “No” is convincing enough and we do not stumble into hypocrisy.[#5:12 See Matt. 5:34.; #5:12 Some Greek manuscripts read “stumble into hypocrisy,” while others have, “stumble into judgment.”]

Prayer for the Sick

¹³Are there any believers in your fellowship suffering great hardship and distress? Encourage them to pray! Are there happy, cheerful ones among you? Encourage them to sing out their praises![#5:13 See Luke 18:1; 1 Cor. 14:14–15.; #5:13 Or “pluck the strings of a harp” or “sing a psalm.”]

¹⁴Are there any sick among you? Then ask the elders of the church to come and pray over the sick and anoint them with oil in the name of our Lord.

¹⁵And the prayer of faith will heal the sick and the Lord will raise them up, and if they have committed sins they will be forgiven.[#5:15 Or “the claim of faith.”; #5:15 This is not the Greek usually used for sickness or disease. The word kamno can also mean “those who are weary and worn down,” and in the context could possibly refer to believers who have been arguing with each other, leaving them spiritually weak.; #5:15 That is, restore them to health. This could be a subtle hint of a resurrection.; #5:15 Or “doer of sin.” There is a clear implication in this passage that the sickness (weakness) referred to is the result of sin. See also 1 Cor. 11:18–32.; #5:15 This may be speaking of the church elders who are forgiving the arguing believers and restoring them back into fellowship.]

¹⁶Confess and acknowledge how you have offended one another and then pray for one another to be instantly healed, for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer![#5:16 As translated from the Aramaic, which uses a word that can be translated “faults” or “folly” or “offenses.” The Critical Greek text is “confess your sins.”; #5:16 Or “restored.”; #5:16 Or “energized prayer,” a prayer within a prayer.]

¹⁷Elijah was a man with human frailties, just like all of us, but he prayed and received supernatural answers. He actually shut the heavens over the land so there would be no rain for three and a half years![#5:17 Or “he prayed with prayer” (intensity).]

¹⁸Then he prayed again and the skies opened up over the land so that the rain came again and produced the harvest.

¹⁹Finally, as members of God’s beloved family, we must go after the one who wanders from the truth and bring him back.

²⁰For the one who restores the sinning believer back to God from the error of his way, gives back to his soul life from the dead, and covers over countless sins by their demonstration of love ![#5:20 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is similar, meaning “save his soul from death.”; #5:20 That is, bring about forgiveness of many sins through restoring the person back to God. To cover sins is a Hebrew concept of atonement.]