YAC 5:5 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, 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 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and have lived self-indulgently. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

UST You have bought all the luxuries you wanted for yourselves. Just as cattle fatten themselves, not realizing that they will be slaughtered, you have lived just to enjoy things, not realizing that God will severely punish you.

BSB {You have lived} on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in [the] day of slaughter.

MSB {You have lived} on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts as[fn] in [the] day of slaughter.

BLB You lived in luxury and lived in self-indulgence upon the earth. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.

AICNT You have lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence; you have fattened your hearts [[as]][fn] in a day of slaughter.

5:5, as: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

OEB You have lived on earth a life of extravagance and luxury; you have indulged your fancies in a time of bloodshed.

WEBBE You have lived in luxury on the earth, and taken your pleasure. You have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

LSV you lived in luxury on the earth, and were wanton; you nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter;

FBV You've enjoyed a life of luxury here on earth, full of self-indulgent pleasure, fattening yourselves up for the day of slaughter!

TCNT You have lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have nourished your hearts [fn]as in a day of slaughter.

5:5 as ¦ — CT

T4T You have lived luxuriously, just to have pleasure here on earth. Just like cattle fatten themselves, not realizing that they will be slaughtered [MET], you have lived just for pleasure [MTY], not realizing that God will severely punish you.

LEB You have lived self-indulgently on the earth[fn] and have lived luxuriously. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.

5:5 Or “land”

BBE You have been living delicately on earth and have taken your pleasure; you have made your hearts fat for a day of destruction.

Moff You have revelled on earth and plunged into dissipation;
⇔ you have fattened yourselves as for the Day of slaughter;

Wymth Here on earth you have lived self-indulgent and profligate lives. You have stupefied yourselves with gross feeding; but a day of slaughter has come.

ASV Ye have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure; ye have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.

DRA You have feasted upon earth: and in riotousness you have nourished your hearts, in the day of slaughter.

YLT ye did live in luxury upon the earth, and were wanton; ye did nourish your hearts, as in a day of slaughter;

Drby Ye have lived luxuriously on the earth and indulged yourselves; ye have nourished your hearts [as] in a day of slaughter;

RV Ye have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure; ye have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.
(Ye/You_all have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure; ye/you_all have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter. )

SLT Ye have led a luxurious life upon the earth, and have rioted in luxury; ye have nourished your hearts, as in the day of slaughter.

Wbstr Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

KJB-1769 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
(Ye/You_all have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye/you_all have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. )

KJB-1611 Yee haue liued in pleasure on the earth, and bene wanton: ye haue nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter:
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Ye haue liued in pleasure on the earth, and ben wanton: Ye haue nourisshed your heartes, as in a day of slaughter.
(Ye/You_all have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton: Ye/You_all have nourisshed your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.)

Gnva Ye haue liued in pleasure on the earth, and in wantonnes. Ye haue nourished your heartes, as in a day of slaughter.
(Ye/You_all have lived in pleasure on the earth, and in wantonnes. Ye/You_all have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. )

Cvdl Ye haue liued in pleasure on the earth and in wantannes. Ye haue norysshed youre hertes, as in a daye of slaughter.
(Ye/You_all have lived in pleasure on the earth and in wantannes. Ye/You_all have norysshed your(pl) hearts, as in a day of slaughter.)

TNT Ye have lived in pleasure on the erth and in wantannes. Ye have norysshed youre hertes as in a daye of slaughter.
(Ye/You_all have lived in pleasure on the earth and in wantannes. Ye/You_all have norysshed your(pl) hearts as in a day of slaughter. )

Wycl Ye han ete on the erthe, and in youre letcheries ye han nurschid youre hertis. In the dai of sleyng ye brouyten,
(Ye/You_all have eat on the earth, and in your(pl) letcheries ye/you_all have nurtured your(pl) hearts. In the day of slaying ye/you_all brought,)

Luth Ihr habt wohlgelebet auf Erden und eure Wollust gehabt und eure Herzen geweidet als auf einen Schlachttag.
(You(pl) have probably/wellgelebet on/in/to earth/land/ground and your(pl) lust(n) had and your(pl) heart(s) grazed as on/in/to a battle(n)tag.)

ClVg Epulati estis super terram, et in luxuriis enutristis corda vestra in die occisionis.[fn]
(Epulati you_are over the_earth/land, and in/into/on luxuriis enutristis hearts your in/into/on day of_killing. )

5.5 Epulati. ID. Nec tantum peccastis superflue congregando, etc., usque ad et cæterorum scelerum quæ fecerant Judæi.

5.5 Epulati. ID. Neither only peccastis superflue congregando, etc., until to and otherwiserum scelerum which they_had_done Jews.

UGNT ἐτρυφήσατε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. καὶ ἐσπαταλήσατε, ἐθρέψατε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς.
(etrufaʸsate epi taʸs gaʸs. kai espatalaʸsate, ethrepsate tas kardias humōn en haʸmera sfagaʸs.)

SBL-GNT ἐτρυφήσατε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐσπαταλήσατε, ἐθρέψατε τὰς καρδίας ⸀ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς.
(etrufaʸsate epi taʸs gaʸs kai espatalaʸsate, ethrepsate tas kardias ⸀humōn en haʸmera sfagaʸs.)

RP-GNT Ἐτρυφήσατε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐσπαταλήσατε· ἐθρέψατε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς.
(Etrufaʸsate epi taʸs gaʸs kai espatalaʸsate; ethrepsate tas kardias humōn hōs en haʸmera sfagaʸs.)

TC-GNT Ἐτρυφήσατε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐσπαταλήσατε· ἐθρέψατε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν [fn]ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς.
(Etrufaʸsate epi taʸs gaʸs kai espatalaʸsate; ethrepsate tas kardias humōn hōs en haʸmera sfagaʸs. )

5:5 ως ¦ — CT

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

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

The Coming of the Lord as Judge

The Bible is clear that there will be a day of judgment (Jas 5:3), and the book of James provides followers of Christ with both a warning and a promise regarding that day. James announces the future coming of the Lord as Judge (Jas 5:7-9; cp. Isa 26:21; Mic 1:3). God, who gave the law, is the Judge who has the power to save and destroy (4:12). Those who slander Jesus Christ and oppress his followers will be slaughtered (see 2:6-7; 5:5-6). If those who follow Christ neglect to show mercy (2:13), befriend the world (4:4), sin through speech (4:11; 5:9), or live to satisfy evil desires (4:1, 16), they, too, will be judged by the law that was intended to set them free (2:12).

The Lord’s future coming influences present realities. God already honors the faithful poor and humiliates the exploitative rich (1:9-10; 5:2-3). Christ’s followers have already become God’s prized possession as God is restoring all things (1:18). James declares that we should obey the royal law of the messianic kingdom (2:8), of which followers of Christ have become heirs (2:5).

The coming of the Lord may not be immediate, so James exhorts Christians to endure (1:3-4) and wait patiently for Christ’s return (5:7-8). They will receive the crown of eternal life (1:12) and reap the harvest of righteousness sown by a life of faithfulness to God (3:18).

In view of impending judgment, James exhorts Christ’s followers to resist the devil and to humble themselves before God (4:7). We must grieve over sin, live with pure intentions and behavior (4:8-9), and rescue any Christian brother or sister who is headed toward death (5:19-20). Like Elijah, we must practice faith, prayer, and confession (5:13-18). Like Job, we must endure suffering, discovering in the end the scope of God’s kindness and mercy (4:10; 5:11).

Passages for Further Study

1 Sam 2:10; Pss 2:7-12; 96:11-13; Isa 26:21; Mic 1:3; Matt 16:27; Luke 12:35-48; 18:8; John 5:22-30; Acts 10:42; 1 Cor 4:5; Jas 5:7-9; 1 Jn 2:28

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

5:5

In this verse, James condemned rich people for the way they lived. The past tense verbs “have lived” and “have fattened” describe how the rich people had lived their lives until that time.

5:5a

You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence.

You^(plur) have lived your life on earth in comfort and have indulged yourselves in every pleasure.
While in this world, you^(plur) have enjoyed life because of your riches, and you have done whatever you wanted.

You have lived…in luxury: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as You have lived…in luxury means that the rich men lived an easy life. They had everything they liked that gave them comfort or great joy without doing any hard work.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

Your life…was full of rich living (NCV)

you have had a life of comfort (NJB)

You^(plur) have had an easy life with lots of money to buy nice things

on earth: The phrase on earth implies a contrast with how these men would live after God’s Day of Judgment.

In some languages, it will be more natural to put this phrase first in 5:5. For example:

While here on earth (CEV)

Your life on earth (NCV)

In this world

and self-indulgence: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as self-indulgence is similar in meaning to the verb “lived in luxury.” It means that the rich people did anything they wanted so that they could have as much pleasure as they liked.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

and pleasure (GNT)

satisfying your every desire (NLT)

and pleasing yourselves with everything you wanted (NCV)

5:5b

You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.

You made yourselves fat, like an animal ready to be killed. (NCV)
You^(plur) have made yourselves ready to be judged. You are like fattened animals that men prepare for the day that they will slaughter them.
In doing this, you^(plur) are like animals that are made fat just before they are killed and eaten. Like them, you are not aware that you are about to be judged/destroyed.

You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter: This is a metaphor. Parts of it are implicit. In this metaphor, James compared rich people to animals. Some ways that they are similar are:

Both fatten themselves. The rich people were indulging themselves, not doing any physical work and getting fat. They are just like animals that farmers allow not to work, but to enjoy eating and becoming fat before the farmer slaughters them for food.
By fattening themselves, both are unaware that they are preparing their own doom. For animals, their doom is to be slaughtered. For the rich, their doom is to be punished as part of God’s judgment.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

Change the metaphor to a simile and make the image explicit. For example:
You made yourselves fat, like an animal ready to be killed. (NCV)
you are like fat cattle on their way to be butchered. (CEV)
Change the metaphor to a simile and make explicit the way that they are similar. For example:
You^(plur) have made yourselves fat and will be judged/punished like fattened animals that men prepare for the day of slaughter.
Like animals that are fed well just before they are slaughtered to be eaten, you^(plur) live for pleasure and are not aware that you are about to face judgment.
Translate the meaning without using a metaphor. In this metaphor, “getting fat” is a sign of self-indulgence and not following God’s law to help others. For example:
You^(plur) have not followed God’s laws and will be judged.
You have lived only for your own pleasures, and in that way, you have prepared yourselves for God to judge you. And you are not even aware of it!

your hearts: The phrase “your hearts” is figurative language that refers to the entire person. So many modern English versions translate it as “yourselves.”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

You^(plur) have made yourselves like animals that have been fattened

But now you are like fat cattle (CEV)

in the day of slaughter: The phrase in the day of slaughter means “prepared for the day to be killed.” This phrase refers to the day that the farmer will kill the fattened animals for food. In this metaphor, this phrase is parallel to the day that God will judge the rich.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

in the day when men slaughter the animals

prepared for a day to be killed

and in this way you^(plur) have prepared yourselves for God’s judgment

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ἐτρυφήσατε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἐσπαταλήσατε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐτρυφήσατε ἐπί τῆς γῆς Καί ἐσπαταλήσατε ἐθρέψατε τάς καρδίας ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς)

These two phrases mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine them. Alternate translation: [You have indulged yourselves with earthly luxuries]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐθρέψατε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς

˱you_all˲_nourished (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐτρυφήσατε ἐπί τῆς γῆς Καί ἐσπαταλήσατε ἐθρέψατε τάς καρδίας ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς)

James is speaking of these rich people as if they were cattle that had been fed luxuriously on grain so they would becomefattened for slaughter as banqueting food. In this case the banquet is not a positive image, as it often is elsewhere when it describes God’s future reign. Alternate translation: [Your self-indulgence has made you subject to harsh judgment]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐθρέψατε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς

James is speaking of the heart as the center of human desire. Alternate translation: [You have indulged your desires]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐν ἡμέρᾳ

in ˓the˒_day

James is using the term day to refer to a particular time. Alternate translation: [at a time]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς

in ˓the˒_day ˱of˲_slaughter

James is using the idea of slaughter to refer to God’s judgment. Alternate translation: [at a time when God is about to judge everyone for what they have done]

Parallel YAC 5:5

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

5:5

5:5a

5:5b