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.
Onyo Kwa Matajiri
15:1 1Tim 6:9; Mit 11:28; Lk 6:24Basi sikilizeni, ninyi matajiri, lieni na kuomboleza kwa ajili ya hali mbaya sana inayowajia. 25:2 Za 39:11; Ay 13:22; Mt 6:20; Yak 2:2Utajiri wenu umeoza na mavazi yenu yameliwa na nondo. 3Dhahabu yenu na fedha yenu vimeliwa na kutu. Kutu yake itashuhudia dhidi yenu nayo itaila miili yenu kama vile moto. Mmejiwekea hazina kwa ajili ya siku za mwisho. 45:4 Mt 3:5; Kum 24:15; Rum 9:29Angalieni! Ule ujira wa vibarua waliolima mashamba yenu mliouzuia kwa hila unapiga kelele dhidi yenu na vilio vya wavunaji vimefika masikioni mwa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote. 55:5 Yer 12:3; 25:34Mmeishi duniani kwa anasa na kwa starehe, mmejinenepesha tayari kwa siku ya kuchinjwa. 65:6 Mit 3:34; Yak 2:6; Ebr 10:38; Yak 4:2Mmewahukumu na kuwaua watu wenye haki, waliokuwa hawapingani nanyi.
Uvumilivu Katika Mateso
75:7 Yer 5:24; Yoe 2:23Kwa hiyo, ndugu zangu, vumilieni hadi kuja kwake Bwana. Angalieni jinsi mkulima angojavyo ardhi itoe mavuno yake yaliyo ya thamani na jinsi anavyovumilia kwa ajili ya kupata mvua za kwanza na za mwisho. 85:8 Rum 13:11; 1Pet 4:7Ninyi nanyi vumilieni, tena simameni imara, kwa sababu kuja kwa Bwana kumekaribia. 95:9 Yak 4:11; Za 94:2; 1Kor 4:5; Mt 24:33Ndugu zangu, msinungʼunikiane msije mkahukumiwa. Hakimu amesimama mlangoni!
105:10 Mt 5:12; Ebr 11:25Ndugu zangu, waangalieni manabii walionena kwa Jina la Bwana, ili kuwa mfano wa uvumilivu katika kukabiliana na mateso. 115:11 Mt 5:10; Ay 2:10; Ebr 10:36; Ay 42:10; 12:17; Kut 34:6Kama mnavyojua, tunawahesabu kuwa wabarikiwa wale waliovumilia. Mmesikia habari za uvumilivu wake Ayubu na mmeona kile ambacho hatimaye Bwana alimtendea. Bwana ni mwingi wa huruma, na amejaa rehema.
125:12 Mt 5:31-34; Yak 1:25Zaidi ya yote, ndugu zangu, msiape, iwe kwa mbingu au kwa dunia, au kwa kitu kingine chochote. “Ndiyo” yenu na iwe ndiyo, na “Hapana” yenu iwe hapana, la sivyo mtahukumiwa.
Maombi Ya Imani
135:13 Za 50:15; Kol 3:16Je, mtu yeyote miongoni mwenu amepatwa na taabu? Basi inampasa aombe. Je, kuna yeyote mwenye furaha? Basi na aimbe nyimbo za kusifu. 145:14 Za 23:5; Mdo 11:30; Isa 1:6; Mk 6:13; 16:18; Lk 10:38Je, kuna yeyote miongoni mwenu aliye mgonjwa? Basi inampasa awaite wazee wa kanisa wamwombee na kumpaka mafuta kwa Jina la Bwana. 155:15 Yak 1:6; Isa 33:24; Mt 9:2Kule kuomba kwa imani kutamwokoa huyo mgonjwa, naye Bwana atamwinua na kama ametenda dhambi, atasamehewa. 165:16 Mdo 19:18; Ebr 12:13; Mt 7:7Kwa hiyo ungamianeni dhambi zenu ninyi kwa ninyi na kuombeana ili mpate kuponywa. Maombi ya mwenye haki yana nguvu tena yanafaa sana.
175:17 Mdo 14:15; 1Fal 17:1; Lk 4:25Eliya alikuwa mwanadamu kama sisi. Akaomba kwa bidii kwamba mvua isinyeshe, nayo haikunyesha juu ya nchi kwa muda wa miaka mitatu na miezi sita. 185:18 1Fal 18:41-45Kisha akaomba tena, nazo mbingu zikatoa mvua nayo ardhi ikatoa mazao yake.
195:19 Yak 3:14; Mt 18:15Ndugu zangu, yeyote miongoni mwenu akipotoka na kuicha kweli, naye akarejezwa na mtu mwingine, 205:20 Rum 11:14; 1Pet 4:8hamna budi kujua kwamba yeyote amrejezaye mwenye dhambi kutoka upotovu wake, ataiokoa roho ya huyo mwenye dhambi kutoka mauti na kusitiri wingi wa dhambi.
