James 5 Parallel Bible Translations

James 5 ▼
swipe to see more →
AMP
Amplified Bible
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 Come [quickly] now, you rich [who lack true faith and hoard and misuse your resources], weep and howl over the miseries [the woes, the judgments] that are coming upon you. Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
2 Your wealth has rotted and is ruined and your [fine] clothes have become moth-eaten. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up your treasure in the last days [when it will do you no good]. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 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 that you have [fraudulently] withheld from the laborers who have mowed your fields are crying out [against you for vengeance]; and the cries of the harvesters have come to the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
5 On the earth you have lived luxuriously and abandoned yourselves to soft living and led a life of wanton pleasure [self-indulgence, self-gratification]; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and have put to death the righteous man; he offers you no resistance. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
7 So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
8 You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
9 Do not complain against one another, believers, so that you will not be judged [for it]. Look! The Judge is standing right at the door. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10 As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers and representatives]. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 You know we call those blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] who were steadfast and endured [difficult circumstances]. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and you have seen the Lord’s outcome [how He richly blessed Job]. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. As you know, we count as 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 But above all, my fellow believers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but let your yes be [a truthful] yes, and your no be [a truthful] no, so that you may not fall under judgment. But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
13 Is anyone among you suffering? He must pray. Is anyone joyful? He is to sing praises [to God]. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
14 Is anyone among you sick? He must call for the elders (spiritual leaders) of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; Is anyone among you sick? 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. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its crops [as usual]. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and falls into error and [another] one turns him back [to God], My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back,
20 let the [latter] one know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save that one’s soul from death and cover a multitude of sins [that is, obtain the pardon of the many sins committed by the one who has been restored]. let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page