James 5:1
James 5:1 in Multiple Translations
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.
Come now, you men of wealth, give yourselves to weeping and crying because of the bitter troubles which are coming to you.
Come on, you rich people! You should weep and wail for all the problems that are coming your way!
Goe to nowe, ye rich men: weepe, and howle for your miseries that shall come vpon you.
Go, now, ye rich! weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon [you];
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you.
Come now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you .
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you.
Now I have something to say to the rich people who do not believe in Christ and who ◄oppress you/cause you to suffer►. Listen to me, you rich people! You should weep and wail loudly [DOU] because you will experience terrible troubles [PRS]!
Now I’m talking to rich people that cheated people to get money for themselves. You mob listen to me. You are going to get big trouble, so you can start to cry right now, and you can be really sad.
Berean Amplified Bible — James 5:1
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James 5:1 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — James 5:1
Study Notes — James 5:1
- Context
- Cross References
- James 5:1 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on James 5:1
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on James 5:1
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on James 5:1
- Trapp's Commentary on James 5:1
- Ellicott's Commentary on James 5:1
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on James 5:1
- Cambridge Bible on James 5:1
- Barnes' Notes on James 5:1
- Whedon's Commentary on James 5:1
- Sermons on James 5:1
Context — A Warning to the Rich
1Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
2Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. 3Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 11:28 | He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage. |
| 2 | 1 Timothy 6:9–10 | Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. |
| 3 | Proverbs 11:4 | Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 9:23 | This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. |
| 5 | James 1:11 | For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits. |
| 6 | Luke 12:16–21 | Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods. Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.” |
| 7 | Luke 6:24–25 | But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. |
| 8 | Luke 16:19–25 | Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side. So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. |
| 9 | Matthew 19:23–24 | Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” |
| 10 | Micah 6:12 | For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths. |
James 5:1 Summary
James 5:1 is a warning to those who have a lot of money and possessions, telling them to be sad and sorry because their wealth will not last (as seen in James 5:2-3). This is because God wants us to trust in Him, not in our wealth or things (as taught in Matthew 6:19-20), and to use what we have to help others and bring glory to Him. We should remember that our wealth and possessions can decay and disappear, but our relationship with God is what truly lasts (as reflected in 1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is James 5:1 addressing?
James 5:1 is addressing those who are rich, warning them of the misery to come upon them, as seen in the verse 'Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you', a concept also found in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 which warns against trusting in riches.
What is the nature of the misery James is warning about?
The misery James is warning about seems to be a future judgment, possibly related to the corruption and decay of their riches, as mentioned in James 5:2-3, and also reflected in Proverbs 28:20 which says 'A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished'
Is James condemning all rich people?
No, James is not condemning all rich people, but rather those who have hoarded treasure and trusted in their riches, as seen in James 5:3, a concept also supported by Matthew 19:21 which teaches that wealth can be a hindrance to following God.
How can we apply James 5:1 to our lives today?
We can apply James 5:1 by examining our own hearts and priorities, making sure we are not trusting in our wealth or material possessions, but rather in God, as taught in Psalm 52:7 which says 'Lo, the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches'
What does James mean by 'weep and wail'?
James means that the rich should mourn and lament their coming misery, recognizing the emptiness and fleeting nature of their wealth, a concept also reflected in Luke 6:24-25 which says 'But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort'
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I prioritize my wealth or material possessions over my relationship with God?
- How can I use my resources to bless others and bring glory to God, rather than just accumulating more wealth?
- What are some areas in my life where I am trusting in my own abilities or resources, rather than trusting in God's provision and care?
- How can I cultivate a heart of generosity and contentment, rather than a heart of greed and covetousness?
Gill's Exposition on James 5:1
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on James 5:1
Matthew Poole's Commentary on James 5:1
Trapp's Commentary on James 5:1
Ellicott's Commentary on James 5:1
Adam Clarke's Commentary on James 5:1
Cambridge Bible on James 5:1
Barnes' Notes on James 5:1
Whedon's Commentary on James 5:1
Sermons on James 5:1
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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"Rebuke to Prosperity Preachers" by Leonard Ravenhill | This sermon challenges the notion of prosperity gospel by questioning why God rebukes those who claim to be rich and increased with goods. It delves into the discrepancy between th |
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Testimony - Part 10 by Jackie Pullinger | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the need for action and accountability in our Christian faith. He highlights how in the West, we have an abundance of teaching and resources, |
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Don't Preach About Hell! (Compilation) by Compilations | The video is a sermon that emphasizes the importance of recognizing oneself as a child of God. The speaker repeats the phrase "You are my child" multiple times to drive this point |
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James 5 Expositional by Chuck Smith | This sermon by James focuses on various important topics such as the warning to the rich about the dangers of setting their hearts on riches, the importance of patience in waiting |
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We Have Been Taught Not to Discern - Part 4 by Andrew Strom | This sermon addresses the housing crisis and the prevalence of deception in the church, particularly related to prosperity gospel teachings. It emphasizes the importance of standin |
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(Through the Bible) Job 21-30 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the psalmist's lamentation of his tragic condition and the bitterness he experiences. The psalmist questions why the wicked prosper while th |
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Jesus Commands Us to Go by Andrew Strom | This sermon emphasizes the importance of living out one's faith by following the Great Commission as commanded by Jesus. It challenges believers to step out of their comfort zones, |





