YAC 5:4 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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
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 Behold, the pay of the workers who have reaped your fields, which has been withheld from you, is crying out, and the cries of the ones harvesting have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

UST Think about what you have done. You did not pay the wages you promised to the workers who harvested your fields. These unpaid wages show how unfair you were to these workers. They are crying out to God because of the way you have treated them. The Lord is a God of great power, and he is listening to their loud cries and he will punish you for what you have done.

BLB Behold, the wage of the workmen having harvested your fields, having been kept back by you, cries out, and the cries of those having harvested have entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

AICNT Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

OEB Listen! The wages you have held back from the labourers who mowed your fields are crying out against you, and the outcries of your harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts!

WEBBE Behold, the wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you have kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of those who reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Armies.[fn]

5:4 Greek: Sabaoth (or Hebrew: Tze’va’ot)

WMBB Behold, the wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you have kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of those who reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts.[fn]

5:4 Greek: Sabaoth (or Hebrew: Tze’va’ot)

NET Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

LSV Behold, the reward of the workmen cries out, of those who in-gathered your fields, which has been fraudulently kept back by you, and the exclamations of those who reaped have entered into the ears of the LORD of Hosts;

FBV Look, the wages of your farm workers that you cheated are crying out against you—the cries of the farm workers have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.

TCNT Behold, the wages of the workers who harvested your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

T4T Think about what you have done. You have not paid wages to the workmen who have harvested your fields for you, with the result that [PRS] those reapers are crying out to God for him to help them. And God, the all-powerful Lord, has heard their loud cries.

LEB Behold, the wages that were held back by you from the workers who reap your fields cry out, and the cries of the reapers have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts.

BBE See, the money which you falsely kept back from the workers cutting the grass in your field, is crying out against you; and the cries of those who took in your grain have come to the ears of the Lord of armies.

Moff See, the wages of which you have defrauded the workmen who mowed your fields call out,
⇔ and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

Wymth I tell you that the pay of the labourers who have gathered in your crops—pay which you are keeping back—is calling out against you; and the outcries of those who have been your reapers have entered into the ears of the Lord of the armies of Heaven.

ASV Behold, the hire of the laborers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

DRA Behold the hire of the labourers, who have reaped down your fields, which by fraud has been kept back by you, crieth: and the cry of them hath entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

YLT lo, the reward of the workmen, of those who in-gathered your fields, which hath been fraudulently kept back by you — doth cry out, and the exclamations of those who did reap into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth have entered;

Drby Behold, the wages of your labourers, who have harvested your fields, wrongfully kept back by you, cry, and the cries of those that have reaped are entered into the ears of [the] Lord of sabaoth.

RV Behold, the hire of the labourers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
(Behold, the hire of the labourers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth/cries out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. )

SLT Behold, the hire of laborers having reaped your farms, withheld by you, cries out, and the cries of the reapers have entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

Wbstr Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped your fields, which is by you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them who have reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

KJB-1769 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
(Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth/cries: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. )

KJB-1611 Beholde, the hire of the labourers which haue reaped downe your fieldes, which is of you kept backe by fraud, cryeth: and the cryes of them which haue reaped, are entred into the eares of the Lord of Sabaoth.
(Behold, the hire of the labourers which have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth/cries: and the cryes of them which have reaped, are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.)

Bshps Beholde, the hire of labourers, which haue reaped downe your fieldes, which hire is of you kept backe by fraude, cryeth: and the cryes of them which haue reaped, are entred into the eares of the Lorde Sabaoth.
(Behold, the hire of labourers, which have reaped down your fields, which hire is of you kept back by fraude, crieth/cries: and the cryes of them which have reaped, are entered into the ears of the Lord Sabaoth.)

Gnva Behold, the hire of ye labourers, which haue reaped your fieldes (which is of you kept backe by fraude) cryeth, and the cryes of them which haue reaped, are entred into the eares of the Lord of hostes.
(Behold, the hire of ye/you_all labourers, which have reaped your fields (which is of you kept back by fraude) crieth/cries, and the cryes of them which have reaped, are entered into the ears of the Lord of hosts/armies. )

Cvdl Beholde, the hyre of the labourers which haue reped downe youre feldes (which hyer is of you kept backe by fraude) cryeth: and the cryes of the which haue reped, are entred in to the eares of the LORDE Sabaoth.
(Behold, the hire of the labourers which have reped down your(pl) fields (which higher is of you kept back by fraude) crieth/cries: and the cryes of the which have reped, are entered in to the ears of the LORD Sabaoth.)

TNT Beholde the hyre of the labourers which have reped doune youre feldes (which hyer is of you kept backe by fraude) cryeth: and the cryes of them which have reped are entred into the eares of the lorde Sabaoth.
(Behold the hire of the labourers which have reped down your(pl) fields (which higher is of you kept back by fraude) crieth/cries: and the cryes of them which have reped are entered into the ears of the lord Sabaoth. )

Wycl Lo! the hire of youre werke men, that repiden youre feeldis, which is fraudid of you, crieth; and the cry of hem hath entrid in to the eeris of the Lord of oostis.
(Lo! the hire of your(pl) work men, that repiden your(pl) fields, which is fraudid of you, crieth/cries; and the cry of hem hath/has entered in to the ears of the Lord of hosts/armies.)

Luth Siehe, der Arbeiter Lohn, die euer Land eingeerntet haben, und von euch abgebrochen ist, der schreiet; und das Rufen der Ernter ist kommen vor die Ohren des HErr’s Zebaoth.
(See/Look, the/of_the work/jober wage/salary, the your(pl) country eingeerntet have, and from you cancelled is, the/of_the screams/cries_out; and the Rufen the/of_the harvestr is coming before/in_front_of the ears the LORD’s Tsevaot_(of_armies).)

ClVg Ecce merces operariorum, qui messuerunt regiones vestras, quæ fraudata est a vobis, clamat: et clamor eorum in aures Domini sabbaoth introivit.[fn]
(Behold reward/wages to_workorum, who/which messuerunt regions your, which fraudata it_is from to_you(pl), shouts: and clamor their in/into/on ears Master sabbaoth entered. )

5.4 Ecce merces. BED. Magna est hominum iniquitas, qui pauperes nolunt suscipere; sed major est quando mercenariis, et famulis debitam laboris mercedem nolunt reddere. Unde Job: Si adversum me terra mea clamat et sulci ejus deflent? si fructus ejus comedi absque pecunia?

5.4 Behold reward/wages. BED. Magna it_is of_men iniquity, who/which the_poor they_do_not_want to_undertake; but major/greater it_is when mercenariess, and famulis due work a_reward they_do_not_want to_return. From_where/who Yob: When/But_if against me earth/land my shouts and sulci his deflent? when/but_if fruit his I_ate without money/wealth?

UGNT ἰδοὺ, ὁ μισθὸς τῶν ἐργατῶν, τῶν ἀμησάντων τὰς χώρας ὑμῶν, ὁ ἀφυστερημένος ἀφ’ ὑμῶν, κράζει, καὶ αἱ βοαὶ τῶν θερισάντων, εἰς τὰ ὦτα Κυρίου Σαβαὼθ εἰσελήλυθαν.
(idou, ho misthos tōn ergatōn, tōn amaʸsantōn tas ⱪōras humōn, ho afusteraʸmenos af’ humōn, krazei, kai hai boai tōn therisantōn, eis ta ōta Kuriou Sabaōth eiselaʸluthan.)

SBL-GNT ἰδοὺ ὁ μισθὸς τῶν ἐργατῶν τῶν ἀμησάντων τὰς χώρας ὑμῶν ὁ ⸀ἀφυστερημένος ἀφʼ ὑμῶν κράζει, καὶ αἱ βοαὶ τῶν θερισάντων εἰς τὰ ὦτα Κυρίου Σαβαὼθ ⸀εἰσεληλύθασιν·
(idou ho misthos tōn ergatōn tōn amaʸsantōn tas ⱪōras humōn ho ⸀afusteraʸmenos afʼ humōn krazei, kai hai boai tōn therisantōn eis ta ōta Kuriou Sabaōth ⸀eiselaʸluthasin;)

RP-GNT Ἰδού, ὁ μισθὸς τῶν ἐργατῶν τῶν ἀμησάντων τὰς χώρας ὑμῶν, ὁ ἀπεστερημένος ἀφ' ὑμῶν, κράζει· καὶ αἱ βοαὶ τῶν θερισάντων εἰς τὰ ὦτα κυρίου Σαβαὼθ εἰσεληλύθασιν.
(Idou, ho misthos tōn ergatōn tōn amaʸsantōn tas ⱪōras humōn, ho apesteraʸmenos af' humōn, krazei; kai hai boai tōn therisantōn eis ta ōta kuriou Sabaōth eiselaʸluthasin.)

TC-GNT Ἰδού, ὁ μισθὸς τῶν ἐργατῶν τῶν ἀμησάντων τὰς χώρας ὑμῶν, ὁ [fn]ἀπεστερημένος ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν, κράζει· καὶ αἱ βοαὶ τῶν θερισάντων εἰς τὰ ὦτα Κυρίου Σαβαὼθ [fn]εἰσεληλύθασιν.
(Idou, ho misthos tōn ergatōn tōn amaʸsantōn tas ⱪōras humōn, ho apesteraʸmenos af humōn, krazei; kai hai boai tōn therisantōn eis ta ōta Kuriou Sabaōth eiselaʸluthasin. )

5:4 απεστερημενος ¦ αφυστερημενος ECM^† SBL WH

5:4 εισεληλυθασιν ¦ εισεληλυθαν TH WH

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

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

5:4a

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.

5:4b

are crying out against you.

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

5:4a–b

In this verse, James condemned another sin of rich men. They cheated their workers by refusing to pay them what they had agreed to pay.

Look: The Greek word that the BSB literally translates as Look calls attention to something surprising or shocking. It does not necessarily refer to something that can be seen with the eyes. Since the main event in this verse is “crying out,” it may be better to start with “Listen!” rather than with “look!” For example:

Listen! (NRSV)

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Pay attention to

Notice

Listen to me

Many English versions do not translate this word. Use a natural way in your language to call attention to what James said immediately following this word.

the wages you withheld from the workmen: The Greek word that the BSB translates as withheld also means “cheated,” “defrauded,” or “refused to pay.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

You refused to pay the people who worked (CEV)

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

the pay you have held back from the workers (NET)

who mowed your fields: The Greek word that the BSB translates as mowed here refers to cutting the stalks of grain. This is the first process in harvesting grain.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

who harvested your fields (GW)

who worked in your fields (CEV)

who cut your grain

are crying out against you: This is a figure of speech called personification. In this personification, James speaks of the unpaid wages as if they were people who cry out. The wages were crying out that they should be paid to the workmen.

The Greek verb that the BSB translates as crying out implies that the wages were:

complaining to the rich men who cheated. For example:
Listen to their complaints! (GNT)
asking God for help. For example:
shout to God against you (GW)

There are at least two ways to translate this figure of speech:

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!

5:4c

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.

The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts: The harvesters are the same men as the “workmen” in 5:4a. James said that their cries had reached God’s ears. This means that God had heard the workers’ complaints. James implied that God would soon punish the rich men for their sin.

Some other ways to translate this sentence are:

the cries of the workers have been heard by the Lord All-Powerful. (NCV)

The Lord of Armies has heard the cries of those who gather the crops. (GW)

the harvesters: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the harvesters refers to workers who cut the grain and gather it together to remove it from the field. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the reapers (NET)

workers who harvested your crops (CEV)

the workers (NCV)

the Lord of Hosts: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the Lord of Hosts is taken from the Old Testament. It is a title for God that is literally “Lord of armies.” Even in the Old Testament, this title had come to mean “the supreme God” or “the Almighty God.” This means that God is the ruler of every power in the spiritual world.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (NLT)

God, the Lord Almighty (GNT)

the Supreme Chief/Ruler of all heavenly beings

the Lord All-Powerful (CEV)

This title also occurs in Romans 9:29; Psalm 89:8; and Isaiah 6:3. See also Lord in the Glossary.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰδοὺ, ὁ μισθὸς τῶν ἐργατῶν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού ὁ μισθός τῶν ἐργατῶν τῶν ἀμησάντων τάς χώρας ὑμῶν ὁ ἀφυστερημένος ἀφʼ ὑμῶν κράζει καί αἱ βοαί τῶν θερισάντων εἰς τά ὦτα Κυρίου Σαβαώθ εἰσεληλύθασιν)

The term Behold focuses the attention of a listener or reader on what a speaker or writer is about to say. It may be helpful to express its meaning as a separate sentence here. Alternate translation: [Consider this! The pay of the workers]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὁ μισθὸς τῶν ἐργατῶν, τῶν ἀμησάντων τὰς χώρας ὑμῶν, ὁ ἀφυστερημένος ἀφ’ ὑμῶν, κράζει

the ¬which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού ὁ μισθός τῶν ἐργατῶν τῶν ἀμησάντων τάς χώρας ὑμῶν ὁ ἀφυστερημένος ἀφʼ ὑμῶν κράζει καί αἱ βοαί τῶν θερισάντων εἰς τά ὦτα Κυρίου Σαβαώθ εἰσεληλύθασιν)

If your language does not use this passive form, you can express it with an active form. When James says from you, he does not mean that this payment has been withheld from the rich owners of these fields. He is saying that it was due from them, but they have not paid it to their workers. Alternate translation: [the pay that you have withheld from the workers who reaped your fields is crying out]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

κράζει

˓is˒_crying_out

James is speaking of this pay as if it were a living thing that could cry out. Alternate translation: [is obvious evidence that you have done wrong]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

αἱ βοαὶ τῶν θερισάντων, εἰς τὰ ὦτα Κυρίου Σαβαὼθ εἰσελήλυθαν

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού ὁ μισθός τῶν ἐργατῶν τῶν ἀμησάντων τάς χώρας ὑμῶν ὁ ἀφυστερημένος ἀφʼ ὑμῶν κράζει καί αἱ βοαί τῶν θερισάντων εἰς τά ὦτα Κυρίου Σαβαώθ εἰσεληλύθασιν)

James is speaking of the ears of the Lord to mean his hearing. Alternate translation: [the Lord of Sabaoth has heard the cries of the harvesting ones]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

Κυρίου Σαβαὼθ

˱of˲_˓the˒_Lord (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού ὁ μισθός τῶν ἐργατῶν τῶν ἀμησάντων τάς χώρας ὑμῶν ὁ ἀφυστερημένος ἀφʼ ὑμῶν κράζει καί αἱ βοαί τῶν θερισάντων εἰς τά ὦτα Κυρίου Σαβαώθ εἰσεληλύθασιν)

James assumes that his readers will know that he is speaking of God by a name by which he is often known in the Old Testament. The Hebrew term Sabaoth means “military forces.” Alternate translation: [God, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy