警告為富不仁者
1你們這些富有的人啊！為那將要臨到你們身上的災難痛哭哀號吧！ 2你們的財物朽壞了，衣服也被蟲蛀了。 3你們的金銀生了鏽，那鏽必要指控你們，像火一樣吞噬你們的身體。在末世的日子裡，你們只知道積攢財寶。 4工人替你們收割莊稼，你們卻剋扣他們的工錢。那工錢發出不平的呼喊，工人的冤聲已經傳到萬軍之主的耳中了。 5你們在世上奢侈享樂，在被宰殺的日子裡，把自己養得肥肥胖胖。 6你們冤枉好人、殘害無辜，他們也沒有反抗。
要忍耐到底
7弟兄姊妹，你們要一直忍耐到主來。你們看農夫怎樣耐心等候地裡寶貴的出產，等候秋雨和春雨的降臨。 8同樣，你們也要忍耐，心志堅定，因為主快來了。 9弟兄姊妹，不要互相埋怨，免得受審判。你們看，審判的主已經站在門外了。 10弟兄姊妹，你們要效法從前奉主的名說話的先知，以他們的受苦和忍耐為榜樣。 11我們認為那些忍耐到底的人是有福的。你們都知道約伯的忍耐，也知道主最終怎樣待他，因為主充滿憐憫和慈悲。
12我的弟兄姊妹，最重要的是不可起誓，不可指著天起誓，也不可指著地起誓，不可指著任何東西起誓。你們說話，是就說是，不是就說不是，免得你們受審判。
禱告的力量
13你們中間正在受苦的人應該禱告，喜樂的人應該唱歌讚美， 14生病的人應該請教會的長老來，奉主的名用油抹他的身體並為他禱告。 15出於信心的禱告必能使病人痊癒，主必使他康復。倘若他犯了罪，也必得到赦免。 16所以你們要彼此認罪，互相代禱，好得到醫治。義人的禱告有極大的力量和功效。 17以利亞先知和我們一樣同是血肉之軀，他懇切地祈求不要下雨，結果三年半沒有下雨。 18後來他再禱告求雨，天就降雨，地也長出了莊稼。
19我的弟兄姊妹，如果有人領一個偏離真道的人歸回正路， 20他該知道：使一個迷途中的罪人歸回正路就是救一個靈魂脫離死亡，並且會遮蓋許多罪。
Warning to rich oppressors
1Now listen, you rich people, weep 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 corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.5:5 Or yourselves as in a day of feasting 6You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Patience in suffering
7Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear – not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Otherwise you will be condemned.
The prayer of faith
13Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14Is anyone among you ill? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20remember this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
