This section consists of a series of warnings that God is about to condemn rich people who have lived in luxury and exploited poor people. James wrote in the style of the Old Testament prophets using very harsh language and vivid, even frightening, images of God’s judgment. In your translation, you should use strong language that communicates the certainty of God’s judgment.

James wrote as though he were addressing rich people directly (“you rich people”). But he was not really expecting these rich people to read or to hear his letter. He was writing about rich people who were certainly unbelievers. They were not members of the Christian community. So this section is actually an encouragement to Christians. Many Christians were poor and were being exploited by wealthy landowners. James encouraged these Christians by telling them that, though they were suffering, God would judge the rich. He also wanted to warn them not to envy the rich and not to think or live like them.

In some languages, it will be more natural to use third person forms (“they,” “their,” “them”) throughout this section instead of second person forms (“you”). For example:

1a Rich people 1b should weep and wail 1c because of the misery that is coming upon them. 2a Their wealth has rotted 2b and moths have eaten their clothes. 3a Their gold and silver are corroded. 3b This corrosion will testify against them 3c and eat their flesh like fire. 3d They have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4a Look! The wages they failed to pay the workmen who mowed their fields 4b are crying out against them. 4c The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5a They have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. 5b They have fattened themselves in the day of slaughter. 6a They have condemned and murdered innocent men, 6b who were not opposing them.

James does not condemn the rich simply because they are rich. He accuses them of specific things they have done wrong.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Warning to the Rich (Good News Translation)
-or-
A warning to rich people who mistreat others
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James encouraged the poor, mistreated believers by speaking about the judgment that will come to their rich oppressors

© 2012 by SIL International®

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.