OET interlinear YAC (JAM) 5:4

Section 5:1–6: James warned rich people who mistreat others

This section consists of a series of warnings that God is about to condemn rich people who have lived in luxury and exploited poor people. James wrote in the style of the Old Testament prophets using very harsh language and vivid, even frightening, images of God’s judgment. In your translation, you should use strong language that communicates the certainty of God’s judgment.

James wrote as though he were addressing rich people directly (“you rich people”). But he was not really expecting these rich people to read or to hear his letter. He was writing about rich people who were certainly unbelievers. They were not members of the Christian community. So this section is actually an encouragement to Christians. Many Christians were poor and were being exploited by wealthy landowners. James encouraged these Christians by telling them that, though they were suffering, God would judge the rich. He also wanted to warn them not to envy the rich and not to think or live like them.

In some languages, it will be more natural to use third person forms (“they,” “their,” “them”) throughout this section instead of second person forms (“you”). For example:

^1aRich people ^1bshould weep and wail ^1cbecause of the misery that is coming upon them. ^2aTheir wealth has rotted ^2band moths have eaten their clothes. ^3aTheir gold and silver are corroded. ^3bThis corrosion will testify against them ^3cand eat their flesh like fire. ^3dThey have hoarded wealth in the last days. ^4aLook! The wages they failed to pay the workmen who mowed their fields ^4bare crying out against them. ^4cThe cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. ^5aThey have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. ^5bThey have fattened themselves in the day of slaughter. ^6aThey have condemned and murdered innocent men, ^6bwho were not opposing them.

James does not condemn the rich simply because they are rich. He accuses them of specific things they have done wrong.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Warning to the Rich (GNT)

A warning to rich people who mistreat others

James encouraged the poor, mistreated believers by speaking about the judgment that will come to their rich oppressors

Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields

• Listen! Men harvested your^(plur) fields, but you refused to give them their money. This money

• Listen! You^(plur) have also refused to pay the men who cut the grain on/in your fields/farms.

are crying out against you.

• is complaining about you.^(plur)

• They are shouting/calling to God against/about you.^(plur)

General Comment on 5:4a–b

• Keep the personification. For example:

  The pay you did not give the workers…cries out against you. (NCV)

• Translate the meaning. For example:

  Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. (NLT)

There is a lot of new information in these verse parts. In many languages, it may be helpful to divide the long sentence into two or more separate clauses or sentences. For example:

^4a–bYou refused to pay the people who worked in your fields, and now their unpaid wages are shouting out against you. (CEV)

^4a–bYou failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields. Look! Their wages are crying out against you!

The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

• The cries of those who reap have reached the ears of God, the Lord of heaven’s armies.

• The Lord All-powerful has heard the cries/complaints of the harvest workers.