Section 5:13–18

Believers should praise God and pray to him in faith

In this section, James talked about how believers should interact with God in all kinds of situations. When things are going well, they should praise him. When they need help, they should ask him for it.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

The Power of Prayer (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
Prayer for the Sick (NET Bible)
-or-
Think of God in all Situations
-or-
Pray to God in every Circumstance

Paragraph 5:13–16

In 5:13 James advised people to praise God or to pray to him, according to what kind of situation they are in. Then he gave them detailed instructions and encouraged them to pray for the sick (5:14–16).

5:13a

Is any one of you suffering?: This is a rhetorical question. James used this rhetorical question to begin talking about a particular situation. It also introduces a new topic. The topic is about what to do when you are in trouble.

Some ways to introduce this new topic are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Are any among you in trouble? (Good News Translation)

• As a statement. For example:

Anyone who is having troubles (New Century Version)

• As a conditional clause. For example:

If any of you are having trouble (God’s Word)

• As a temporal clause. For example:

When you(sing) are in trouble

Use a natural way in your language to introduce this new topic.

A rhetorical question with a similar function occurs in 3:13a.

Is…suffering: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Is…suffering means “faces difficulties (of any kind).” It could refer to physical suffering, but you should translate it in a way that includes other kinds of trouble as well.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

Is…in trouble (New International Version (2011 Revision))
-or-
Are…suffering hardships (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
Is having difficulties

any one of you: The phrase any one of you refers to any believer. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Anyone who (New Century Version)
-or-
you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
any person among you(plur)

5:13b

He should pray: In some languages, it will be necessary to make explicit the person to whom people should pray, that is, God. Some other ways to translate this are:

It is important that he pray to God
-or-
He should ask God to help him

He: Depending on how you have translated “anyone of you” in 5:13a, you may need to say “you” or “they” rather than “he” here.

5:13c

Is anyone cheerful?: This is a rhetorical question. James used this rhetorical question to begin talking about a particular situation. The situation is what to do when you are happy.

Some ways to translate this are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Are any among you happy? (Good News Translation)

• As a statement. For example:

Anyone who is happy (New Century Version)
-or-
Concerning people who are happy

• As a conditional clause. For example:

If you are happy (God’s Word)

• As a temporal clause. For example:

When you(sing) are happy

cheerful: Some other ways to translate this word are:

encouraged
-or-
hopeful
-or-
happy (New International Version (2011 Revision))
-or-
feeling good (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
glad

5:13d

sing praises: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sing praises refers to praising God by singing any kind of psalm or hymn or spiritual song. It refers to expressing in words and song how much you love, respect, admire and honor God for who he is.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

sing songs of praise (New International Version (2011 Revision))
-or-
sing praises to the Lord (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
-or-
sing words that honor the Lord

© 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.