YAC 5:16 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) So confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that all of you can be healed, because when an obedient believer prays, it has a real effect.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A working prayer of the righteous is very strong.

UST Because the Lord is able to heal the sick and to forgive sins, admit to each other the sinful things you have done and pray for each other. Then God will heal you. If people who are right with God pray, God will answer their prayers in powerful ways.

BSB Therefore confess [your] sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. [The] prayer of a righteous [man] has great power to prevail.

MSB Confess [your] trespasses[fn] to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. [The] prayer of a righteous [man] has great power to prevail.

BLB Therefore confess the sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man being made effective prevails much.

AICNT [Therefore],[fn] confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

5:16, Therefore: Absent in some manuscripts. BYZ TR

OEB Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be cured. Great is the power of a good person’s fervent prayer.

CSB Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.

NLT Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

NIV Therefore 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.

CEV If you have sinned, you should tell each other what you have done. Then you can pray for one another and be healed. The prayer of an innocent person is powerful, and it can help a lot.

ESV Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

NASB Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

LSB Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

WEBBE Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(16-18)Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

NET So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.

LSV Be confessing to one another the trespasses, and be praying for one another, that you may be healed; very strong is a working supplication of a righteous man;

FBV Admit the wrongs you've done to each other, and pray for one another so that you'll be healed. Earnest prayer from those who live right is very effective.

TCNT [fn]Confess your [fn]trespasses to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful and effective.

5:16 Confess ¦ Therefore confess CT

5:16 trespasses 90.1% ¦ sins CT 9.7%

T4T So, because the Lord is able to heal the sick and to forgive sins, tell each other the sinful things that you have done, and pray for each other in order that you may be healed {that God may heal you} physically and spiritually. If righteous people pray and ask fervently for God to do something, God will certainly do it in a powerful way.

LEB Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much.

NRSV Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

NKJV Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

NAB Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.

BBE So then, make a statement of your sins to one another, and say prayers for one another so that you may be made well. The prayer of a good man is full of power in its working.

Moff So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed; the prayers of the righteous have a powerful effect.

Wymth Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be cured. The heartfelt supplication of a righteous man exerts a mighty influence.

ASV Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.

DRA Confess therefore your sins one to another: and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.

YLT Be confessing to one another the trespasses, and be praying for one another, that ye may be healed; very strong is a working supplication of a righteous man;

Drby Confess therefore your offences to one another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. [The] fervent supplication of the righteous [man] has much power.

RV Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.
(Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye/you_all may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth/avails much in its working. )

SLT Acknowledge your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that ye might be healed. The prayer of the just, being energetic, is very powerful.

Wbstr Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much.

KJB-1769 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
(Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye/you_all may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth/avails much. )

KJB-1611 Confesse your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that yee may bee healed: the effectuall feruent prayer of a righteous man auaileth much.
(Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye/you_all may be healed: the effectuall fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth/avails much.)

Bshps Knowledge your faultes one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed: For ye feruent prayer of a ryghteous man auayleth much.
(Knowledge your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye/you_all may be healed: For ye/you_all fervent prayer of a righteous man auayleth much.)

Gnva Acknowledge your faultes one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed: for the prayer of a righteous man auaileth much, if it be feruent.
(Acknowledge your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye/you_all may be healed: for the prayer of a righteous man availeth/avails much, if it be fervent. )

Cvdl Knowlege youre fautes one to another: and praye one for another, that ye maye be healed. The prayer of a righteous man auayleth moche, yf it be feruet.
(Knowlege your(pl) faults one to another: and pray one for another, that ye/you_all may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man auayleth much, if it be feruet.)

TNT knowledge youre fautes one to another: and praye one for another that ye maye be healed. The prayer of a ryghteous man avayleth moche yf it be fervet.
(knowledge your(pl) faults one to another: and pray one for another that ye/you_all may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man avayleth much if it be fervet. )

Wycl Therfor knouleche ye ech to othere youre synnes, and preye ye ech for othere, that ye be sauyd. For the contynuel preyer of a iust man is myche worth.
(Therefore knowledge ye/you_all each to other your(pl) sins, and pray ye/you_all each for other, that ye/you_all be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man is much worth.)

Luth Bekenne einer dem andern seine Sünden und betet füreinander, daß ihr gesund werdet. Des Gerechten Gebet vermag viel, wenn es ernstlich ist.
(Bekenne one/a to_him change his sins(n) and prays füreinander, that you(pl)/their/her healed become. Des righteous_(ones) prayer able_to many, when it ernstlich is.)

ClVg Confitemini ergo alterutrum peccata vestra, et orate pro invicem ut salvemini: multum enim valet deprecatio justi assidua.
(Confess therefore either/or sins your, and pray for each_other as salvemini: a_lot because valet deprecatio just assidua. )

UGNT ἐξομολογεῖσθε οὖν ἀλλήλοις τὰς ἁμαρτίας, καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ ἀλλήλων, ὅπως ἰαθῆτε. πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη.
(exomologeisthe oun allaʸlois tas hamartias, kai proseuⱪesthe huper allaʸlōn, hopōs iathaʸte. polu isⱪuei deaʸsis dikaiou energoumenaʸ.)

SBL-GNT ἐξομολογεῖσθε ⸀οὖν ἀλλήλοις ⸂τὰς ἁμαρτίας⸃ καὶ ⸀εὔχεσθε ὑπὲρ ἀλλήλων, ὅπως ἰαθῆτε. πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη.
(exomologeisthe ⸀oun allaʸlois ⸂tas hamartias⸃ kai ⸀euⱪesthe huper allaʸlōn, hopōs iathaʸte. polu isⱪuei deaʸsis dikaiou energoumenaʸ.)

RP-GNT Ἐξομολογεῖσθε ἀλλήλοις τὰ παραπτώματα, καὶ εὔχεσθε ὑπὲρ ἀλλήλων, ὅπως ἰαθῆτε. Πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη.
(Exomologeisthe allaʸlois ta paraptōmata, kai euⱪesthe huper allaʸlōn, hopōs iathaʸte. Polu isⱪuei deaʸsis dikaiou energoumenaʸ.)

TC-GNT [fn]Ἐξομολογεῖσθε ἀλλήλοις [fn]τὰ παραπτώματα, καὶ [fn]εὔχεσθε ὑπὲρ ἀλλήλων, ὅπως ἰαθῆτε. Πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη.
(Exomologeisthe allaʸlois ta paraptōmata, kai euⱪesthe huper allaʸlōn, hopōs iathaʸte. Polu isⱪuei deaʸsis dikaiou energoumenaʸ. )

5:16 εξομολογεισθε ¦ εξομολογεισθε ουν CT

5:16 τα παραπτωματα 90.1% ¦ τας αμαρτιας CT 9.7%

5:16 ευχεσθε ¦ προσευχεσθε WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:13–18: Believers should praise God and pray to him in faith

In this section, James talked about how believers should interact with God in all kinds of situations. When things are going well, they should praise him. When they need help, they should ask him for it.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

The Power of Prayer (NLT)

Prayer for the Sick (NET)

Think of God in all Situations

Pray to God in every Circumstance

Paragraph 5:13–16

In 5:13 James advised people to praise God or to pray to him, according to what kind of situation they are in. Then he gave them detailed instructions and encouraged them to pray for the sick (5:14–16).

5:16a

Therefore confess your sins to each other

Therefore, you^(plur) should confess/tell your sins to one another
So you^(plur) believers should admit to other believers that you have disobeyed God.

Therefore: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as Therefore here introduces a command to do something based on what James had just written. God heals sick people in answer to prayer, even if they have sinned (5:15). So people who are sick should seek to be healed by confessing their sins. For example:

So (GW)

For this reason

Because of that

On the basis of what I have just said

confess: The Greek word that the BSB translates as confess means “openly admit” to another person that one has disobeyed God. In this context, it does not mean praying silently to God.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

admit (GW)

you should tell each other what you have done (CEV)

your sins: The word sins here refers to anything that a person has done that is contrary to God’s will and desire for his people. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the things that you have done wrong

your evil thoughts and deeds

your wrongs

to each other: The phrase to each other refers to other members of the church. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

to one another

to your fellow believers

5:16b

and pray for each other

and pray^(plur) for one another,
Pray^(plur) to God for each other

and pray for each other: The word pray means “ask God.” In this context of a person confessing that he has sinned, the topic of the prayer is clear. Here pray for implies that they will ask God to forgive and heal this member of the church. Some other ways to translate this are:

and pray to God for one another

and ask God to heal and forgive you and your fellow believers

5:16c

so that you may be healed.

so that you^(plur) will be cured.
so that the Lord will make you^(plur) well.

so that you may be healed: The purpose of the prayer is so that you may be healed. It is a passive clause. There are at least two ways to translate it:

Use a passive verb. For example:
so that you will be healed (GNT)
Use an active verb. For example:
so God can heal you (NCV)
so that the Lord may heal you

5:16d

The prayer of a righteous man

The prayer prayed/said by a righteous person
When a person who is right with God prays,

The prayer: In some languages, it is more natural to translate the noun prayer as a verb. For example:

When a believing person prays (NCV)

a righteous man: The phrase a righteous man means “a person who lives in the way that God requires.” Some other ways to translate this word are:

a person who does what is right/just

a person who follows/keeps God’s laws

a straight person

This same word occurs in 5:6a where the NIV translates it as “innocent men.” See righteous, meaning 1, in the Glossary.

5:16e

has great power to prevail.

is very powerful and causes great things to happen.
great results happen.

has great power to prevail: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as power to prevail indicates that when a righteous person prays, it causes great things to happen.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

has great power and produces wonderful results (NLT)

is powerful, and it can help a lot (CEV)

In some languages, it will be natural to translate power to prevail as one phrase that is emphasized. For example:

has great effectiveness (NET)

does great things

accomplishes a lot

is very powerful

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

οὖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐξομολογεῖσθε Οὖν ἀλλήλοις τάς ἁμαρτίας καί προσεύχεσθε ὑπέρ ἀλλήλων ὅπως ἰαθῆτε Πολύ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη)

James uses Therefore to introduce something that believers should do as a result of what he said in the previous verse. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain in more detail what he means, as UST does.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἰαθῆτε

˱you_all˲_˓may_be˒_healed

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who would do the action. Alternate translation: [God may heal you]

πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη

Alternate translation: [The prayer of the righteous is very strong as it is working] or [The prayer of the righteous is very strong in its effects]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη

James is using the adjective righteous as a noun in order to indicate a type of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: [The working prayer of a person who is righteous is very strong]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη

James is speaking of prayer as if it were a living thing that was very strong by itself. Alternate translation: [When a person who is righteous prays, God does very powerful things in response]

Parallel YAC 5:16

Section 5:13–18: Believers should praise God and pray to him in faith

Paragraph 5:13–16

5:16a

5:16b

5:16c

5:16d

5:16e