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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>James 5:1 Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/james/5-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/59_Jas_05_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="James 5:1 - Warning to the Rich" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you." /><script type="application/javascript" 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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/james/4-17.htm" title="James 4:17">◄</a> James 5:1 <a href="/james/5-2.htm" title="James 5:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/james/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/james/5.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/james/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/james/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/james/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/james/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Come now, <i>you</i> rich, weep, wailing over the miseries that <i>are</i> coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/james/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Go to now, <i>ye</i> rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon <i>you</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/james/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Come now, <i>you</i> rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon <i>you!</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/james/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come now, you rich people, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/james/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/james/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/james/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Come now, you rich, cry, howling over your miseries which are coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/james/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Come [quickly] now, you rich [who lack true faith and hoard and misuse your resources], weep and howl over the miseries [the woes, the judgments] that are coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/james/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come now, you rich people, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming on you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/james/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come now, you rich people! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming on you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/james/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/james/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />You rich people should cry and weep! Terrible things are going to happen to you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/james/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Go to now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/james/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Pay attention to this if you're rich. Cry and moan about the misery that is coming to you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/james/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />And now, you rich people, listen to me! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/james/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Now listen, you rich people! Cry and moan over the miseries that are overtaking you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/james/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/james/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Come now, you rich, weep and cry aloud for your miseries that are coming on you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/james/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Come now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/james/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Come, you rich men, weep aloud and howl for your sorrows which will soon be upon you.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/james/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/james/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/james/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Go, now, you rich! Weep, howling over your miseries that are coming on [you];<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/james/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />Come now, <i>you</i> rich, weep, wailing over the miseries that <i>are</i> coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/james/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Go, now, ye rich! weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon you;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/james/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Come on now, ye rich, weep, uttering loud cries of grief for the misfortunes coming upon you.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/james/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/james/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Act now, you who are wealthy! Weep and wail in your miseries, which will soon come upon you!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/james/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/james/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/james/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />O YOU rich men, weep and howl for the miseries which shall come upon you!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/james/5.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />Oh rich men, wail and weep over the miseries which are coming upon you!<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/james/5.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />Come, now, you rich men, weep and lament for your miseries that are coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/james/5.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />Come now, ye rich, weep mourning over your calamities which are coming on you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/james/5.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />COME now, ye rich men, let your tears run down, howling over your miseries which are coming upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/james/5.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />As for you that are rich: weep, and lament the miserys that are falling upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/james/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />Come, you rich men, weep aloud and howl for your sorrows which will soon be upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/james/5.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />Come now, ye rich, weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon you!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/james/5.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />Weep now, ye rich men, and howl for your miseries which are coming upon <i>you.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/james/5-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0xUBCzqsAGw?start=806" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/james/5.htm">Warning to the Rich</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/71.htm" title="71: Age (V-PMA-2S) -- A primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, go, pass, or induce.">Come</a> <a href="/greek/3568.htm" title="3568: nyn (Adv) -- A primary particle of present time; now; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.">now,</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: hoi (Art-VMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">you who are</a> <a href="/greek/4145.htm" title="4145: plousioi (Adj-VMP) -- Rich, abounding in, wealthy; subst: a rich man. From ploutos; wealthy; figuratively, abounding with.">rich,</a> <a href="/greek/2799.htm" title="2799: klausate (V-AMA-2P) -- To weep, weep for, mourn, lament. Of uncertain affinity; to sob, i.e. Wail aloud.">weep</a> <a href="/greek/3649.htm" title="3649: ololyzontes (V-PPA-NMP) -- To howl, lament loudly, cry aloud, bewail. A reduplicated primary verb; to howl or halloo, i.e. Shriek.">and wail</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: epi (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">over</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tais (Art-DFP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/5004.htm" title="5004: talaipōriais (N-DFP) -- Hardship, misery, distress, toil. From talaiporos; wretchedness, i.e. Calamity.">misery</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tais (Art-DFP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1904.htm" title="1904: eperchomenais (V-PPM/P-DFP) -- From epi and erchomai; to supervene, i.e. Arrive, occur, impend, attack, influence.">to come</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymōn (PPro-G2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">upon you.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">2</span>Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-24.htm">Luke 6:24</a></span><br />But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_timothy/6-9.htm">1 Timothy 6:9-10</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-23.htm">Matthew 19:23-24</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/18-11.htm">Revelation 18:11-17</a></span><br />And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/11-28.htm">Proverbs 11:28</a></span><br />He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/7-19.htm">Ezekiel 7:19</a></span><br />They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with wealth, for it became the stumbling block that brought their iniquity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-19.htm">Matthew 6:19-21</a></span><br />Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_john/2-15.htm">1 John 2:15-17</a></span><br />Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zephaniah/1-18.htm">Zephaniah 1:18</a></span><br />Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/2-20.htm">Isaiah 2:20</a></span><br />In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold—the idols they made to worship.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/12-15.htm">Luke 12:15-21</a></span><br />And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” / 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?’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/17-11.htm">Jeremiah 17:11</a></span><br />Like a partridge hatching eggs it did not lay is the man who makes a fortune unjustly. In the middle of his days his riches will desert him, and in the end he will be the fool.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/5-10.htm">Ecclesiastes 5:10-14</a></span><br />He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. / When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? / The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-23.htm">Mark 10:23-25</a></span><br />Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” / And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! / 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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/49-6.htm">Psalm 49:6-10</a></span><br />They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches. / No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God. / For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice, ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.</p><p class="hdg">Go.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/james/4-13.htm">James 4:13</a></b></br> Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:</p><p class="hdg">ye.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/james/1-11.htm">James 1:11</a></b></br> For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/james/2-6.htm">James 2:6</a></b></br> But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/8-12.htm">Deuteronomy 8:12-14</a></b></br> Lest <i>when</i> thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt <i>therein</i>; … </p><p class="hdg">weep.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/james/4-9.htm">James 4:9</a></b></br> Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and <i>your</i> joy to heaviness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/13-6.htm">Isaiah 13:6</a></b></br> Howl ye; for the day of the LORD <i>is</i> at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/22-12.htm">Isaiah 22:12,13</a></b></br> And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/james/4-9.htm">Aloud</a> <a href="/james/3-14.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/hebrews/5-7.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/zechariah/11-2.htm">Howl</a> <a href="/zechariah/11-3.htm">Howling</a> <a href="/mark/13-8.htm">Miseries</a> <a href="/romans/3-16.htm">Misery</a> <a href="/james/2-6.htm">Rich</a> <a href="/hebrews/13-23.htm">Soon</a> <a href="/1_timothy/6-10.htm">Sorrows</a> <a href="/2_thessalonians/1-4.htm">Troubles</a> <a href="/james/4-9.htm">Wail</a> <a href="/james/4-13.htm">Wealth</a> <a href="/james/4-9.htm">Weep</a> <a href="/james/4-9.htm">Weeping</a> <a href="/james/4-10.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/revelation/1-3.htm">Aloud</a> <a href="/revelation/8-11.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-12.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/psalms/59-6.htm">Howl</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-10.htm">Howling</a> <a href="/lamentations/1-7.htm">Miseries</a> <a href="/genesis/16-11.htm">Misery</a> <a href="/2_peter/1-11.htm">Rich</a> <a href="/1_peter/1-13.htm">Soon</a> <a href="/1_peter/2-19.htm">Sorrows</a> <a href="/james/5-11.htm">Troubles</a> <a href="/revelation/1-7.htm">Wail</a> <a href="/james/5-2.htm">Wealth</a> <a href="/revelation/5-4.htm">Weep</a> <a href="/revelation/5-4.htm">Weeping</a> <a href="/james/5-5.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">James 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/james/5-1.htm">Rich oppressors are to fear God's vengeance.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/james/5-7.htm">We ought to be patient in afflictions, after the example of the prophets, and Job;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/james/5-12.htm">to forbear swearing;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/james/5-13.htm">to pray in adversity, to sing in prosperity;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/james/5-14.htm">to acknowledge mutually our several faults, to pray one for another;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/james/5-19.htm">and to correct a straying brother.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/james/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/james/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/james/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Come now,</b><br>This phrase serves as a call to attention, urging the audience to listen carefully. It is a rhetorical device used to introduce a serious admonition. Similar language is found in prophetic literature, where prophets call people to heed God's message.<p><b>you who are rich,</b><br>The term "rich" refers to those who possess material wealth and resources. In the biblical context, wealth is often associated with responsibility and potential spiritual danger. Jesus frequently warned about the deceitfulness of riches (<a href="/matthew/19-23.htm">Matthew 19:23-24</a>). The rich in this passage are likely those who have gained wealth unjustly or who prioritize it over spiritual matters.<p><b>weep and wail</b><br>These expressions of lamentation are common in prophetic literature, symbolizing deep sorrow and repentance. The imagery is reminiscent of Old Testament prophets who called for mourning over sin and impending judgment (<a href="/joel/1-5.htm">Joel 1:5</a>, <a href="/isaiah/13-6.htm">Isaiah 13:6</a>). It suggests an urgent need for the rich to recognize their spiritual peril.<p><b>over the misery to come upon you.</b><br>The "misery" indicates impending judgment or calamity. This could refer to both temporal consequences and eternal judgment. The Bible consistently warns that those who trust in riches rather than God will face dire outcomes (<a href="/luke/6-24.htm">Luke 6:24-25</a>, <a href="/revelation/18-17.htm">Revelation 18:17-19</a>). The passage underscores the transient nature of wealth and the ultimate accountability before God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/james.htm">James</a></b><br>The author of the epistle, traditionally identified as James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Jerusalem church. He writes with authority and pastoral concern.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_rich.htm">The Rich</a></b><br>The primary audience of this verse, representing those who have accumulated wealth, often at the expense of others. James addresses them directly, warning of impending judgment.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_early_church.htm">The Early Church</a></b><br>The broader context in which this letter was written, consisting of Jewish Christians facing various trials, including economic oppression by the wealthy.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/judgment.htm">Judgment</a></b><br>An event implied in the text, where the rich will face consequences for their actions. This reflects a common biblical theme of divine justice.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/m/misery.htm">Misery</a></b><br>The condition that James warns will come upon the rich, indicating a future time of suffering and distress as a result of their actions.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_wealth.htm">The Danger of Wealth</a></b><br>Wealth in itself is not condemned, but the love of wealth and the unethical means of acquiring it are. Believers should examine their attitudes towards money and possessions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/call_to_repentance.htm">Call to Repentance</a></b><br>The call to "weep and wail" is a call to repentance. Those who have wronged others in their pursuit of wealth should seek forgiveness and make restitution.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/eternal_perspective.htm">Eternal Perspective</a></b><br>Christians are encouraged to focus on eternal values rather than temporary wealth. This involves investing in relationships, acts of kindness, and spiritual growth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/social_responsibility.htm">Social Responsibility</a></b><br>Wealth comes with responsibility. Believers are called to use their resources to help those in need and to promote justice and equity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/awareness_of_judgment.htm">Awareness of Judgment</a></b><br>The reality of divine judgment should motivate believers to live righteously and to use their resources in ways that honor God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_james_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from James 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_aren't_james_5_1-3_warnings_on_the_rich_supported_by_history.htm">In James 5:1–3, why are the warnings against the rich not corroborated by historical evidence showing that many wealthy individuals also contributed positively to society? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where_to_store_true_treasures.htm">Where should you store your true treasures?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/key_teachings_in_book_of_james.htm">What are the key teachings in the Book of James?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_support_prosperity_gospel_over_jesus.htm">Why do many Christians ignore Jesus’ teachings about wealth and instead support prosperity gospel preachers?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/james/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(1) <span class= "bld">Go to now, ye rich.</span>--As in <a href="/james/4-3.htm" title="You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your lusts.">James 4:3</a>, it was "Woe to you, worldly," so now "Woe to ye rich: weep, bewailing"--literally, <span class= "ital">howling for your miseries coming upon you.</span> Comp. <a href="/isaiah/13-6.htm" title="Howl you; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.">Isaiah 13:6</a>; <a href="/isaiah/14-31.htm" title="Howl, O gate; cry, O city; you, whole Palestina, are dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.">Isaiah 14:31</a>; <a href="/isaiah/15-3.htm" title="In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.">Isaiah 15:3</a>, where (in the LXX.) the same term is used;--a picture word, imitating the cry of anguish,--peculiar to this place in the New Testament. Observe the immediate future of the misery; it is already coming. Doubtless by this was meant primarily the pillage and destruction of Jerusalem, but under that first intention many others secondary and similar are included: for all "riches certainly make themselves wings" and fly away (<a href="/proverbs/23-5.htm" title="Will you set your eyes on that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.">Proverbs 23:5</a>). Calvin and others of his school fail to see in this passage an exhortation of the rich to penitence, but only a denunciation of woe upon them; in the sense, however, that all prophecy, whether evil or good, is conditional, there is sufficient room to believe that no irrevocable doom was pronounced by "a Christian Jeremiah."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/james/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 1-6.</span> - DENUNCIATION OF THE RICH FOR <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> GRINDING DOWN THE POOR AND KEEPING BACK THEIR WAGES; <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> LUXURY; <p><span class="note_emph">(3)</span> MURDER. . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/james/5-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">Come</span><br /><span class="grk">Ἄγε</span> <span class="translit">(Age)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_71.htm">Strong's 71: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, go, pass, or induce.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">now,</span><br /><span class="grk">νῦν</span> <span class="translit">(nyn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3568.htm">Strong's 3568: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[you who are]</span><br /><span class="grk">οἱ</span> <span class="translit">(hoi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Vocative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">rich,</span><br /><span class="grk">πλούσιοι</span> <span class="translit">(plousioi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Vocative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4145.htm">Strong's 4145: </a> </span><span class="str2">Rich, abounding in, wealthy; subst: a rich man. From ploutos; wealthy; figuratively, abounding with.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">weep</span><br /><span class="grk">κλαύσατε</span> <span class="translit">(klausate)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2799.htm">Strong's 2799: </a> </span><span class="str2">To weep, weep for, mourn, lament. Of uncertain affinity; to sob, i.e. Wail aloud.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[and] wail</span><br /><span class="grk">ὀλολύζοντες</span> <span class="translit">(ololyzontes)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3649.htm">Strong's 3649: </a> </span><span class="str2">To howl, lament loudly, cry aloud, bewail. A reduplicated primary verb; to 'howl' or 'halloo', i.e. Shriek.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐπὶ</span> <span class="translit">(epi)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> </span><span class="str2">On, to, against, on the basis of, at. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">the</span><br /><span class="grk">ταῖς</span> <span class="translit">(tais)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article - Dative Feminine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">misery</span><br /><span class="grk">ταλαιπωρίαις</span> <span class="translit">(talaipōriais)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - Dative Feminine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_5004.htm">Strong's 5004: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hardship, misery, distress, toil. From talaiporos; wretchedness, i.e. Calamity.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to come</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐπερχομέναις</span> <span class="translit">(eperchomenais)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Feminine Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1904.htm">Strong's 1904: </a> </span><span class="str2">From epi and erchomai; to supervene, i.e. Arrive, occur, impend, attack, influence.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">upon you.</span><br /><span class="grk">ὑμῶν</span> <span class="translit">(hymōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> </span><span class="str2">You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/james/5-1.htm">James 5:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/james/5-1.htm">James 5:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/james/5-1.htm">James 5:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/james/5-1.htm">James 5:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/james/5-1.htm">James 5:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/james/5-1.htm">James 5:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/james/5-1.htm">James 5:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/james/5-1.htm">James 5:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/james/5-1.htm">James 5:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/james/5-1.htm">James 5:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/james/5-1.htm">NT Letters: James 5:1 Come now you rich weep and howl (Ja Jas. Jam) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/james/4-17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="James 4:17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="James 4:17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/james/5-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="James 5:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="James 5:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>