James 5:1-6 Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.… We have here three kinds of possessions indicated. First, stores of various kinds of goods. These are "corrupted," they have become rotten and worthless. Secondly, rich garments, which in the East are often a very considerable portion of a wealthy man's possessions. They have been stored up so jealously and selfishly that insects have preyed upon them and ruined them. And thirdly, precious metals. These have become tarnished and rusted, through not having been put to any rational use. Everywhere their avarice has been not only sin, but folly. It has failed of its sinful object. The unrighteous hoarding has tended not to wealth, but to ruin. And thus the rust of their treasures becomes "a testimony against them." In the ruin of their property their own ruin is portrayed; and just as corruption, and the moths, and the rust consume their goods, so shall the fire of God's judgment consume the owners and abusers of them. They have reserved all this store for their selfish enjoyment, but God has reserved them for His righteous anger. (A. Plummer, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.WEB: Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you. |
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