James 4:13–5:6

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³Now listen,^f you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”^{g 14}Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.^{h 15}Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,ⁱ we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.^{j 17}If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.^k

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5Now listen,^l you rich people,^m weep and wailⁿ because of the misery that is coming on you. ²Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.^{o 3}Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.^{p 4}Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers^q who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries^r of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.^{s 5}You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves^t in the day of slaughter.^{au 6}You have condemned and murdered^v the innocent one,^w who was not opposing you.