Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged

5 Come now, you arich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your briches 1are corrupted, and cyour garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. dYou have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed ethe wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and fthe cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of 2Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and 3luxury; you have 4fattened your hearts 5as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

Be Patient and Persevering

7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord 6is at hand.

9 Do not 7grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be 8condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 gMy brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and hpatience. 11 Indeed iwe count them blessed who jendure. You have heard of kthe perseverance of Job and seen lthe end intended by the Lord—that mthe Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

12 But above all, my brethren, ndo not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into 9judgment.