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 sick? 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.
警告为富不仁者
1你们这些富有的人啊！为那将要临到你们身上的灾难痛哭哀号吧！ 2你们的财物朽坏了，衣服也被虫蛀了。 3你们的金银生了锈，那锈必要指控你们，像火一样吞噬你们的身体。在末世的日子里，你们只知道积攒财宝。 4工人为你们收割庄稼，你们却克扣他们的工钱。那工钱在喊冤，工人的冤声已经传到万军之主的耳中了。 5你们在世上奢侈享乐，在被宰杀的日子里，把自己养得肥肥胖胖。 6义人并没有对抗你们，你们却将他们定罪并杀害。
要忍耐到底
7弟兄姊妹，你们要忍耐，一直到主来。你们看农夫怎样等候地里宝贵的出产，耐心等候秋雨和春雨的降临。 8同样，你们也要忍耐，心志坚定，因为主快来了。 9弟兄姊妹，不要互相埋怨，免得受审判。你们看，审判的主已经站在门外了。 10弟兄姊妹，你们要效法从前奉主的名说话的先知，以他们的受苦和忍耐为榜样。 11我们认为那些忍耐到底的人是有福的。你们都知道约伯的忍耐，也知道主最终怎样待他，因为主充满怜悯和慈悲。
12我的弟兄姊妹，最重要的是不可起誓，不可指着天起誓，也不可指着地起誓，不可指着任何东西起誓。你们说话，是就说是，不是就说不是，免得你们受审判。
祷告的力量
13你们中间正在受苦的人应该祷告，喜乐的人应该唱歌赞美， 14生病的人应该请教会的长老来，奉主的名用油抹他的身体并为他祷告。 15出于信心的祷告必能使病人痊愈，主必使他康复。倘若他犯了罪，也必得到赦免。 16所以你们要彼此认罪，互相代祷，好得到医治。义人的祷告有极大的力量和功效。 17以利亚先知和我们一样同是血肉之躯，他恳切地祈求不要下雨，结果三年半没有下雨。 18后来他再祷告求雨，天就降雨，地也长出了庄稼。
19我的弟兄姊妹，如果有人领一个偏离真道的人归回正路， 20他该知道：使一个罪人迷途知返就是救一个灵魂脱离死亡，并且会遮盖许多罪。
