American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
James 5
3
Your gold and silver is corroded; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Reference
4
Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, cries: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 19:13
Jeremiah 22:13
Exodus 22:27
Psalm 9:12
Job 34:28
Exodus 3:9
Genesis 4:10
Luke 18:7
References Lord
Romans 9:29
Malachi 3:5
5
You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; you have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
Reference
7
Be patient therefore, brothers, to the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 11:14
Galatians 6:9
Colossians 1:11
Hebrews 6:15
Romans 2:7
Galatians 5:5
Matthew 24:44
References Lord
Joel 2:23
Jeremiah 5:24
1 Thessalonians 2:19
8
Be you also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws near.
Reference
Parallel theme
James 5:9
Galatians 5:22
1 Peter 4:7
References Lord
Psalm 37:7
Philippians 4:5
Psalm 27:14
Revelation 22:20
1 Thessalonians 3:13
Micah 7:7
Psalm 130:5
9
Grudge not one against another, brothers, lest you be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door.
Reference
Judgment
1 Corinthians 4:5
James 4:11
1 Peter 4:5
Parallel theme
Leviticus 19:18
Matthew 24:33
1 Peter 4:9
Genesis 4:7
Galatians 5:26
Galatians 5:14
Mark 13:29
10
Take, my brothers, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Reference
11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Reference
Grace
Exodus 34:6
Psalm 86:15
Psalm 103:8
Luke 6:36
1 Peter 1:13
Parallel theme
Matthew 10:22
Job 2:10
References Lord
James 1:12
2 Peter 2:9
Lamentations 3:22
12
But above all things, my brothers, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yes be yes; and your no, no; lest you fall into condemnation.
13
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 50:15
Jonah 2:2
Hosea 6:1
Revelation 14:3
Psalm 91:15
Matthew 26:30
Prayer
Hebrews 5:7
Jonah 2:7
Luke 22:44
Sin
Ephesians 5:19
14
Is any sick among you? 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:
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 6:13
Mark 16:18
Acts 15:4
Titus 1:5
Prayer
Acts 28:8
Acts 14:23
Acts 9:40
2 Kings 4:33
References Lord
2 Kings 5:11
15
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Reference
16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 9:31
Jeremiah 33:3
1 John 3:22
Acts 19:18
Prayer
Matthew 21:22
Proverbs 15:8
Job 42:8
Righteousness
Proverbs 15:29
Psalm 34:15
1 Peter 2:24
17
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Kings 17:1
Luke 4:25
Revelation 11:6
1 Kings 18:1
Acts 14:15
Acts 10:26
Romans 11:2
18
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 14:22
20
Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 11:30
James 5:19
Proverbs 11:4
Salvation
1 Timothy 4:16
Romans 11:14
1 Corinthians 9:22
Sin
1 Peter 4:8
Proverbs 10:12
James 1:15
Psalm 32:1
Summary of James 5
James 5 gives a powerful warning against wealth used selfishly and unjustly while encouraging suffering believers to remain patient, trusting that God's judgment is coming, and then calls the Christian community to respond to every circumstance through prayer, praise, mutual confession, healing ministry, persistent faith, and restoration of those who wander away from the truth.
The chapter opens with a severe warning directed toward wealthy people who have accumulated possessions through selfishness and oppression.
James tells them to recognize that their riches will not protect them from God's judgment because wealth is temporary and cannot provide security when God's justice arrives.
Their expensive clothing will deteriorate, their precious metals will corrode, and their accumulated possessions will ultimately testify against them rather than protect them.
The most serious accusation concerns the treatment of workers.
People who harvested the wealthy landowners' fields had apparently been denied the wages they deserved, and James declares that the cries of these exploited workers have reached the Lord.
This presents God as the defender of people who have been economically abused and reminds wealthy believers that their treatment of vulnerable workers matters deeply to Him.
James also condemns those who have lived in excessive luxury while others suffered, comparing their self-indulgence to animals being fattened for slaughter.
The warning reaches its most serious point when James describes the condemnation and killing of righteous people by those possessing greater social and economic power.
After confronting injustice, James turns toward believers who are suffering themselves, encouraging them to remain patient until the Lord's coming.
The example of a farmer waiting for valuable crops demonstrates that believers sometimes have to wait faithfully because God's purposes may not become visible immediately.
Christians should therefore strengthen their hearts rather than becoming discouraged by difficult circumstances.
They should also avoid complaining against fellow believers because the Judge is near, meaning that suffering should not cause Christians to turn their frustration against one another.
James then points to the prophets and Job as examples of perseverance.
The prophets endured opposition while speaking God's message, while Job's experience demonstrated that suffering does not mean God has abandoned His people.
Job's story ultimately reveals God's compassion and mercy, encouraging believers to remain faithful even when they cannot understand their circumstances.
James then gives practical teaching about truthful speech, instructing Christians not to rely upon elaborate oaths but simply to let their yes mean yes and their no mean no.
The chapter next presents a comprehensive picture of prayer.
Those who are suffering should pray, while those who are cheerful should sing praises.
Those who are sick should call the elders of the church so that they can pray over them and anoint them with oil in the Lord's name.
James connects faithful prayer with healing and forgiveness, emphasizing the importance of bringing physical, emotional, spiritual, and communal needs before God.
Believers are also instructed to confess their faults to one another and pray for one another, demonstrating that Christian community should provide a place where people can acknowledge their failures, receive prayer, and experience restoration.
James uses Elijah as an example because Elijah was an ordinary human being who prayed earnestly and experienced God's powerful response.
His story demonstrates that effective prayer does not depend upon someone possessing a supernatural nature but upon faithful dependence upon God.
The chapter concludes with the responsibility of restoring wandering believers.
If someone leaves the truth and another Christian helps bring that person back, the restoration is described as a significant work because it rescues the wandering person from destructive consequences and helps cover a multitude of sins.
James therefore ends his letter by emphasizing that Christians should not simply observe one another's struggles from a distance but should actively participate in prayer, correction, healing, encouragement, and restoration.
The central message of James 5 is that God strongly opposes the selfish use of wealth and the exploitation of vulnerable people, while believers who suffer should patiently trust God's coming justice, follow the examples of faithful people such as the prophets and Job, respond to every circumstance through prayer and praise, seek communal support during sickness and spiritual struggle, confess and pray for one another, and lovingly restore those who wander from the truth.
The chapter opens with a severe warning directed toward wealthy people who have accumulated possessions through selfishness and oppression.
James tells them to recognize that their riches will not protect them from God's judgment because wealth is temporary and cannot provide security when God's justice arrives.
Their expensive clothing will deteriorate, their precious metals will corrode, and their accumulated possessions will ultimately testify against them rather than protect them.
The most serious accusation concerns the treatment of workers.
People who harvested the wealthy landowners' fields had apparently been denied the wages they deserved, and James declares that the cries of these exploited workers have reached the Lord.
This presents God as the defender of people who have been economically abused and reminds wealthy believers that their treatment of vulnerable workers matters deeply to Him.
James also condemns those who have lived in excessive luxury while others suffered, comparing their self-indulgence to animals being fattened for slaughter.
The warning reaches its most serious point when James describes the condemnation and killing of righteous people by those possessing greater social and economic power.
After confronting injustice, James turns toward believers who are suffering themselves, encouraging them to remain patient until the Lord's coming.
The example of a farmer waiting for valuable crops demonstrates that believers sometimes have to wait faithfully because God's purposes may not become visible immediately.
Christians should therefore strengthen their hearts rather than becoming discouraged by difficult circumstances.
They should also avoid complaining against fellow believers because the Judge is near, meaning that suffering should not cause Christians to turn their frustration against one another.
James then points to the prophets and Job as examples of perseverance.
The prophets endured opposition while speaking God's message, while Job's experience demonstrated that suffering does not mean God has abandoned His people.
Job's story ultimately reveals God's compassion and mercy, encouraging believers to remain faithful even when they cannot understand their circumstances.
James then gives practical teaching about truthful speech, instructing Christians not to rely upon elaborate oaths but simply to let their yes mean yes and their no mean no.
The chapter next presents a comprehensive picture of prayer.
Those who are suffering should pray, while those who are cheerful should sing praises.
Those who are sick should call the elders of the church so that they can pray over them and anoint them with oil in the Lord's name.
James connects faithful prayer with healing and forgiveness, emphasizing the importance of bringing physical, emotional, spiritual, and communal needs before God.
Believers are also instructed to confess their faults to one another and pray for one another, demonstrating that Christian community should provide a place where people can acknowledge their failures, receive prayer, and experience restoration.
James uses Elijah as an example because Elijah was an ordinary human being who prayed earnestly and experienced God's powerful response.
His story demonstrates that effective prayer does not depend upon someone possessing a supernatural nature but upon faithful dependence upon God.
The chapter concludes with the responsibility of restoring wandering believers.
If someone leaves the truth and another Christian helps bring that person back, the restoration is described as a significant work because it rescues the wandering person from destructive consequences and helps cover a multitude of sins.
James therefore ends his letter by emphasizing that Christians should not simply observe one another's struggles from a distance but should actively participate in prayer, correction, healing, encouragement, and restoration.
The central message of James 5 is that God strongly opposes the selfish use of wealth and the exploitation of vulnerable people, while believers who suffer should patiently trust God's coming justice, follow the examples of faithful people such as the prophets and Job, respond to every circumstance through prayer and praise, seek communal support during sickness and spiritual struggle, confess and pray for one another, and lovingly restore those who wander from the truth.