Warning to the Rich
3
Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. 5You have laid up treasure 6in the last days.
4
Behold, 7the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and 8the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of 9the Lord of hosts.
5
10You have lived on the earth in luxury and 11in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in 12a day of slaughter.
Patience in Suffering
7
Be patient, therefore, brothers,a until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives 15the early and the late rains.
9
Do not grumble against one another, brothers, 18so that you may not be judged; behold, 19the Judge is standing 20at the door.
10
As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take 21the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11
Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of 22the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen 23the purpose of the Lord, how 24the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
12
But above all, my brothers, 25do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
The Prayer of Faith
13
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him 26sing praise.
14
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, 27anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
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And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And 28if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16
Therefore, 29confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, 30that you may be healed. 31The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.b
17
Elijah was a man 32with a nature like ours, and 33he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for 34three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
18
35Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)