James 5

1Now listen, you rich people. Cry and wail, because of the misery that is coming on you.

2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.

3Your gold and silver are covered with rust. That rust will be a witness against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days.

4Listen! The pay you cheated from the workers who harvested your fields is crying out. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of heaven's armies.

5You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter.

6You have condemned and murdered innocent people, who were not even fighting back against you.

7So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord comes. See how the farmer waits for the precious crop from the ground, being patient until it gets the early and the late rains.

8You too must be patient. Keep your hearts strong, because the coming of the Lord is near.

9Brothers and sisters, do not complain against one another, or you will be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!

10Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of patience in suffering.

11We consider blessed those who have kept going. You have heard about Job's patience, and you have seen what the Lord finally did for him. The Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

12Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not make oaths — not by heaven, not by earth, not by anything else. Just let your "Yes" be yes and your "No" be no, or you will be judged.

13Is anyone among you suffering? Let that person pray. Is anyone happy? Let that person sing songs of praise.

14Is anyone among you sick? That person should call for the elders of the church, who will pray over the sick person and put oil on them in the name of the Lord.

15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise that person up. And if that person has sinned, that person will be forgiven.

16So tell your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a person who is right with God is powerful and effective.

17Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed hard that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

18Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

19My brothers and sisters, if one of you wanders away from the truth, and someone brings that person back,

20Remember this: whoever turns a sinner back from their wrong way will save that person from death and cover over many sins.