Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

James 5:1

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 5 Come, now, you rich men, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you.+

James 5:1

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 5 Ἄγε Be going νῦν now οἱ the πλούσιοι, rich (ones), κλαύσατε weep YOU ὀλολύζοντες howling ἐπὶ upon ταῖς the ταλαιπωρίαις miseries ὑμῶν of YOU ταῖς to the ἐπερχομέναις. (ones) coming upon.

James 5:1

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 5 Come, now, YOU rich [men],+ weep, howling over YOUR miseries that are coming upon YOU.+

James 5:1

American Standard Version
- 5 Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.

James 5:1

The Emphasized Bible
- 5 Come now! ye wealthy! Weep ye howling, for your hardships which are coming upon you:

James 5:1

King James Version
- 5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

James Study Notes—Chapter 5

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 5:1
  
  Come, now: See study note on Jas 4:13.
  
  you rich men: Here James addresses wealthy people in general, much as Jesus did in his Sermon on the Mount. (Lu 6:24 and study note) Neither of them suggested that God disapproves of all men who are wealthy. However, many of the wealthy were driven by greed, oppressing the poor and underpaying workers. (Jas 5:4-6) Those who were inclined to trust in wealth instead of in God fell victim to “the deceptive power of riches.” (Mt 13:22) Jesus’ counsel to the rich helped his disciples to avoid that trap. (Lu 6:20 and study note) Following the same pattern, James’ words to the rich became a warning for all Christians. Those who pursued a materialistic course would ultimately “weep and wail” over losing not just possessions but, far worse, God’s favor and the hope of everlasting life.—Compare 1Ti 6:17-19.