James 5:1
New International Version
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.

New Living Translation
Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you.

English Standard Version
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.

Berean Standard Bible
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.

Berean Literal Bible
Come now, you rich, weep, wailing over the miseries that are coming upon you.

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

New King James Version
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!

New American Standard Bible
Come now, you rich people, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.

NASB 1995
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.

NASB 1977
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Come now, you rich, cry, howling over your miseries which are coming upon you.

Amplified Bible
Come [quickly] now, you rich [who lack true faith and hoard and misuse your resources], weep and howl over the miseries [the woes, the judgments] that are coming upon you.

Christian Standard Bible
Come now, you rich people, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming on you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Come now, you rich people! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming on you.

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

Contemporary English Version
You rich people should cry and weep! Terrible things are going to happen to you.

English Revised Version
Go to now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Pay attention to this if you're rich. Cry and moan about the misery that is coming to you.

Good News Translation
And now, you rich people, listen to me! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you!

International Standard Version
Now listen, you rich people! Cry and moan over the miseries that are overtaking you.

Majority Standard Bible
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.

NET Bible
Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you.

New Heart English Bible
Come now, you rich, weep and cry aloud for your miseries that are coming on you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Come now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

Weymouth New Testament
Come, you rich men, weep aloud and howl for your sorrows which will soon be upon you.

World English Bible
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Go, now, you rich! Weep, howling over your miseries that are coming on [you];

Berean Literal Bible
Come now, you rich, weep, wailing over the miseries that are coming upon you.

Young's Literal Translation
Go, now, ye rich! weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon you;

Smith's Literal Translation
Come on now, ye rich, weep, uttering loud cries of grief for the misfortunes coming upon you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Act now, you who are wealthy! Weep and wail in your miseries, which will soon come upon you!

New American Bible
Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.

New Revised Standard Version
Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
O YOU rich men, weep and howl for the miseries which shall come upon you!

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Oh rich men, wail and weep over the miseries which are coming upon you!
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Come, now, you rich men, weep and lament for your miseries that are coming upon you.

Godbey New Testament
Come now, ye rich, weep mourning over your calamities which are coming on you.

Haweis New Testament
COME now, ye rich men, let your tears run down, howling over your miseries which are coming upon you.

Mace New Testament
As for you that are rich: weep, and lament the miserys that are falling upon you.

Weymouth New Testament
Come, you rich men, weep aloud and howl for your sorrows which will soon be upon you.

Worrell New Testament
Come now, ye rich, weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon you!

Worsley New Testament
Weep now, ye rich men, and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warning to the Rich
1Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. 2Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes.…

Cross References
Luke 6:24
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Matthew 19:23-24
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. / Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Revelation 18:11-17
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves. ...

Proverbs 11:28
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage.

Ezekiel 7:19
They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with wealth, for it became the stumbling block that brought their iniquity.

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. / For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. / The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.

Isaiah 2:20
In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold—the idols they made to worship.

Luke 12:15-21
And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” / Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance. / So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ...

Jeremiah 17:11
Like a partridge hatching eggs it did not lay is the man who makes a fortune unjustly. In the middle of his days his riches will desert him, and in the end he will be the fool.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10-14
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. / When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? / The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. ...

Mark 10:23-25
Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” / And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! / It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Psalm 49:6-10
They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches. / No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God. / For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice, ...


Treasury of Scripture

Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.

Go.

James 4:13
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

ye.

James 1:11
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

James 2:6
But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Deuteronomy 8:12-14
Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; …

weep.

James 4:9
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Isaiah 13:6
Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

Isaiah 22:12,13
And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: …

Jump to Previous
Aloud Bitter Crying Howl Howling Miseries Misery Rich Soon Sorrows Troubles Wail Wealth Weep Weeping Yourselves
Jump to Next
Aloud Bitter Crying Howl Howling Miseries Misery Rich Soon Sorrows Troubles Wail Wealth Weep Weeping Yourselves
James 5
1. Rich oppressors are to fear God's vengeance.
7. We ought to be patient in afflictions, after the example of the prophets, and Job;
12. to forbear swearing;
13. to pray in adversity, to sing in prosperity;
14. to acknowledge mutually our several faults, to pray one for another;
19. and to correct a straying brother.














Come now,
This phrase serves as a call to attention, urging the audience to listen carefully. It is a rhetorical device used to introduce a serious admonition. Similar language is found in prophetic literature, where prophets call people to heed God's message.

you who are rich,
The term "rich" refers to those who possess material wealth and resources. In the biblical context, wealth is often associated with responsibility and potential spiritual danger. Jesus frequently warned about the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 19:23-24). The rich in this passage are likely those who have gained wealth unjustly or who prioritize it over spiritual matters.

weep and wail
These expressions of lamentation are common in prophetic literature, symbolizing deep sorrow and repentance. The imagery is reminiscent of Old Testament prophets who called for mourning over sin and impending judgment (Joel 1:5, Isaiah 13:6). It suggests an urgent need for the rich to recognize their spiritual peril.

over the misery to come upon you.
The "misery" indicates impending judgment or calamity. This could refer to both temporal consequences and eternal judgment. The Bible consistently warns that those who trust in riches rather than God will face dire outcomes (Luke 6:24-25, Revelation 18:17-19). The passage underscores the transient nature of wealth and the ultimate accountability before God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. James
The author of the epistle, traditionally identified as James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Jerusalem church. He writes with authority and pastoral concern.

2. The Rich
The primary audience of this verse, representing those who have accumulated wealth, often at the expense of others. James addresses them directly, warning of impending judgment.

3. The Early Church
The broader context in which this letter was written, consisting of Jewish Christians facing various trials, including economic oppression by the wealthy.

4. Judgment
An event implied in the text, where the rich will face consequences for their actions. This reflects a common biblical theme of divine justice.

5. Misery
The condition that James warns will come upon the rich, indicating a future time of suffering and distress as a result of their actions.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Wealth
Wealth in itself is not condemned, but the love of wealth and the unethical means of acquiring it are. Believers should examine their attitudes towards money and possessions.

Call to Repentance
The call to "weep and wail" is a call to repentance. Those who have wronged others in their pursuit of wealth should seek forgiveness and make restitution.

Eternal Perspective
Christians are encouraged to focus on eternal values rather than temporary wealth. This involves investing in relationships, acts of kindness, and spiritual growth.

Social Responsibility
Wealth comes with responsibility. Believers are called to use their resources to help those in need and to promote justice and equity.

Awareness of Judgment
The reality of divine judgment should motivate believers to live righteously and to use their resources in ways that honor God.(1) Go to now, ye rich.--As in James 4:3, it was "Woe to you, worldly," so now "Woe to ye rich: weep, bewailing"--literally, howling for your miseries coming upon you. Comp. Isaiah 13:6; Isaiah 14:31; Isaiah 15:3, where (in the LXX.) the same term is used;--a picture word, imitating the cry of anguish,--peculiar to this place in the New Testament. Observe the immediate future of the misery; it is already coming. Doubtless by this was meant primarily the pillage and destruction of Jerusalem, but under that first intention many others secondary and similar are included: for all "riches certainly make themselves wings" and fly away (Proverbs 23:5). Calvin and others of his school fail to see in this passage an exhortation of the rich to penitence, but only a denunciation of woe upon them; in the sense, however, that all prophecy, whether evil or good, is conditional, there is sufficient room to believe that no irrevocable doom was pronounced by "a Christian Jeremiah."

Verses 1-6. - DENUNCIATION OF THE RICH FOR

(1) GRINDING DOWN THE POOR AND KEEPING BACK THEIR WAGES;

(2) LUXURY;

(3) MURDER. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Come
Ἄγε (Age)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 71: A primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, go, pass, or induce.

now,
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

[you who are]
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

rich,
πλούσιοι (plousioi)
Adjective - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4145: Rich, abounding in, wealthy; subst: a rich man. From ploutos; wealthy; figuratively, abounding with.

weep
κλαύσατε (klausate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2799: To weep, weep for, mourn, lament. Of uncertain affinity; to sob, i.e. Wail aloud.

[and] wail
ὀλολύζοντες (ololyzontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3649: To howl, lament loudly, cry aloud, bewail. A reduplicated primary verb; to 'howl' or 'halloo', i.e. Shriek.

for
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
ταῖς (tais)
Article - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

misery
ταλαιπωρίαις (talaipōriais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5004: Hardship, misery, distress, toil. From talaiporos; wretchedness, i.e. Calamity.

to come
ἐπερχομέναις (eperchomenais)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 1904: From epi and erchomai; to supervene, i.e. Arrive, occur, impend, attack, influence.

upon you.
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


Links
James 5:1 NIV
James 5:1 NLT
James 5:1 ESV
James 5:1 NASB
James 5:1 KJV

James 5:1 BibleApps.com
James 5:1 Biblia Paralela
James 5:1 Chinese Bible
James 5:1 French Bible
James 5:1 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: James 5:1 Come now you rich weep and howl (Ja Jas. Jam)
James 4:17
Top of Page
Top of Page