James 5 begins with a strong warning to the rich. Their wealth would rot and their garments would be moth-eaten. They had kept back by fraud the wages of laborers who mowed their fields, and the cries of the reapers had reached the ears of the Lord. They lived in luxury while others suffered.

To the believers, James says, Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth until it receives the early and late rain. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Don’t grumble against one another. Take the prophets and Job as examples of perseverance, and see that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Believers should be honest, letting yes be yes and no be no. Prayer fits every situation. The suffering pray, the cheerful sing praises, and the sick call the elders, who pray and anoint with oil. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. Elijah, a man like us, prayed, and God answered. Whoever turns a sinner back from error saves a soul.

James 5 opens with words to the rich who oppress others. Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you. Their riches were corrupted and their garments moth-eaten. They had held back by fraud the wages of the laborers who mowed their fields, and the cries of the reapers had entered the ears of the Lord of Armies. They lived in luxury and condemned the righteous, who did not resist them. James speaks as the prophets did against injustice.

Then he turns to the believers who suffered. Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient until it receives the early and late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. They should not grumble against one another, because the judge stands at the door. The prophets are an example of suffering and perseverance, and Job shows how the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

The letter closes with speech and prayer. Above all, don’t swear by heaven or earth; let your yes be yes and your no be no. Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises. The sick should call the elders to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, yet when he prayed, it did not rain for three years and six months, and when he prayed again, the sky gave rain. James ends by urging believers to turn back anyone who wanders from the truth.