James 5:13
New International Version
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.

New Living Translation
Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.

English Standard Version
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

Berean Standard Bible
Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

Berean Literal Bible
Is anyone among you suffering hardships? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.

King James Bible
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

New King James Version
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

New American Standard Bible
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

NASB 1995
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

NASB 1977
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.

Legacy Standard Bible
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

Amplified Bible
Is anyone among you suffering? He must pray. Is anyone joyful? He is to sing praises [to God].

Christian Standard Bible
Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

American Standard Version
Is any among you suffering? let him pray. Is any cheerful? let him sing praise.

Contemporary English Version
If you are having trouble, you should pray. And if you are feeling good, you should sing praises.

English Revised Version
Is any among you suffering? let him pray. Is any cheerful? let him sing praise.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If any of you are having trouble, pray. If you are happy, sing psalms.

Good News Translation
Are any among you in trouble? They should pray. Are any among you happy? They should sing praises.

International Standard Version
Is anyone among you suffering? He should keep on praying. Is anyone cheerful? He should keep reciting psalms.

Majority Standard Bible
Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

NET Bible
Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises.

New Heart English Bible
Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

Webster's Bible Translation
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any cheerful? let him sing psalms.

Weymouth New Testament
Is one of you suffering? Let him pray. Is any one in good spirits? Let him sing a psalm.

World English Bible
Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Does anyone suffer evil among you? Let him pray; is anyone of good cheer? Let him sing psalms;

Berean Literal Bible
Is anyone among you suffering hardships? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.

Young's Literal Translation
Doth any one suffer evil among you? let him pray; is any of good cheer? let him sing psalms;

Smith's Literal Translation
Does any suffer among you? let him pray. Is any cheerful? let him play on the harp.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he cheerful in mind? Let him sing.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he even-tempered? Let him sing psalms.

New American Bible
Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise.

New Revised Standard Version
Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If any among you be afflicted, let him pray. If any be merry, let him sing psalms.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if any of you is in suffering, let him pray, and if rejoicing, let him sing songs.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Is any one among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any one cheerful? let him sing praise.

Godbey New Testament
Who is afflicted among you? let him pray. Who is merry? let him sing psalms.

Haweis New Testament
Is any man among you under afflictions? let him pray. Is any man happy in mind? let him sing psalms.

Mace New Testament
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray, is his mind serene? let him sing psalms.

Weymouth New Testament
Is one of you suffering? Let him pray. Is any one in good spirits? Let him sing a psalm.

Worrell New Testament
Is anyone among you afflicted? let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? let him sing praise.

Worsley New Testament
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray: is any chearful? let him sing psalms.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Prayer of Faith
12Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment. 13Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.…

Cross References
Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice at all times. / Pray without ceasing. / Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Ephesians 5:19-20
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, / always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. / But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

Psalm 50:15
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

Psalm 34:17
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.

Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.

Psalm 18:6
In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.

Psalm 30:4
Sing to the LORD, O you His saints, and praise His holy name.

Psalm 95:1-2
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation! / Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him in song.

Psalm 100:1-2
A Psalm of thanksgiving. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. / Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs.

Psalm 103:1-2
Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name. / Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds—

Psalm 107:6
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.


Treasury of Scripture

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

any among.

2 Chronicles 33:12,13
And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, …

Job 33:26
He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

Psalm 18:6
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

any merry.

Judges 16:23-25
Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand…

Daniel 5:4
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

let him sing.

1 Chronicles 16:9
Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.

Psalm 95:2
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

Psalm 105:2
Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

Jump to Previous
Afflicted Cheer Cheerful Evil Glad Good Happy Merry Praise Praises Prayers Psalm Psalms Sing Song Spirits Suffer Suffering Trouble
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Afflicted Cheer Cheerful Evil Glad Good Happy Merry Praise Praises Prayers Psalm Psalms Sing Song Spirits Suffer Suffering Trouble
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.














Is any one of you suffering?
The Greek word for "suffering" here is "kakopathei," which encompasses a broad range of hardships, including physical, emotional, and spiritual distress. In the early Christian context, believers often faced persecution, social ostracism, and various trials. This question is a call to self-reflection, urging believers to recognize their struggles and turn to God. The historical context of the early church, which faced significant persecution, highlights the importance of seeking divine support during times of trouble.

He should pray
The Greek term "proseuchesthō" is used for "pray," emphasizing a continuous, earnest communication with God. Prayer is presented as the primary response to suffering, underscoring its power and necessity in the life of a believer. This directive aligns with the broader biblical teaching that prayer is a means of accessing God's grace, comfort, and guidance. The act of praying is not just a ritual but a profound expression of faith and dependence on God, reflecting the early church's reliance on divine intervention.

Is anyone cheerful?
The word "cheerful" is translated from the Greek "euthymei," which conveys a sense of inner joy and well-being. This state of cheerfulness is not merely circumstantial happiness but a deeper, spiritual joy that comes from a relationship with God. In the historical context, this joy could be seen as a testament to the resilience and hope of the early Christians, who found reasons to rejoice despite external hardships.

He should sing praises
The phrase "sing praises" comes from the Greek "psalletō," which means to sing psalms or hymns. This act of worship is a natural response to experiencing God's goodness and blessings. Singing praises is both a personal and communal expression of gratitude and reverence, reflecting the early church's practice of worship through music. It serves as a reminder that joy should lead to worship, acknowledging God's sovereignty and grace in all circumstances.

(13) We now pass on to advice of different kinds--to the heavy-laden or light-hearted, to the suffering and afflicted. Prayer is to be the refuge of one, praise the safeguard of another; the whole life is to revolve, as it were, around the throne of God, whether in the night of grief or day of joy.

Let him pray.--No worthier comment can be found than Montgomery's hymn--

"Prayer is the burden of a sigh,

The falling of a tear,

The upward glancing of an eye,

When none but God is near."

Long petitions, or many, cannot be always made; mind and body may be too weak and ill; but ejaculations--"Arrows of the Lord's deliverance," as Augustine called them, "shot out with a sudden quickness"--these are ever in the power of the beleaguered Christian. And--

"More things are wrought by prayer

Than this world dreams of."

Let him sing.--The word originally applied to instrumental music, the Eastern accompaniment of "psalms." Praise, like prayer, ought to be individual as well as congregational. Hymns might be used by all in their devotions, and could not fail to be a blessing; while for those who have God's great gift of music, it were surely better to sing--as the Apostle urges--than to say. There is a sadness latent in the most jubilant of earthly tunes, but not so with the heavenly; and quiring angels do not scorn to catch our humblest notes, and weave them in their endless song, if they be raised in thankfulness to Him Whom they and all creation praise.

Verses 13-20. - Exhortations with respect to practical conduct in health and sickness. Verse 13. -

(1) Is any among you suffering? let him pray.

(2) Is any cheerful? let him sing praise.

Prayer in the narrower sense of petition is rather for sufferers, who need to have their wants supplied and their sorrows removed. Praise, the highest form of prayer, is to spring up from the grateful heart of the cheerful. Ψάλλειν (cf. Romans 15:9; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
{Is} any one
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

of
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

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

suffering?
Κακοπαθεῖ (Kakopathei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2553: To suffer evil, endure affliction. From the same as kakopatheia; to undergo hardship.

He should pray.
προσευχέσθω (proseuchesthō)
Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4336: To pray, pray for, offer prayer. From pros and euchomai; to pray to God, i.e. Supplicate, worship.

{Is} anyone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

cheerful?
εὐθυμεῖ (euthymei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2114: From euthumos; to cheer up, i.e. be cheerful; neuter comparative more cheerfully.

He should sing praises.
ψαλλέτω (psalletō)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5567: Probably strengthened from psao; to twitch or twang, i.e. To play on a stringed instrument.


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NT Letters: James 5:13 Is any among you suffering? Let him (Ja Jas. Jam)
James 5:12
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