James 5:1-6

James 5:1-6

[1] now,  ye rich men,  weep  and howl  for  miseries  that shall come upon  [2] riches  are corrupted,  and  garments  are  motheaten.  [3] gold  and  silver  is cankered;  and  the rust  of them  a witness  against  and  shall eat  flesh  as it were  fire.  Ye have heaped treasure together  for  the last  days.  [4] Behold,  the hire  of the labourers  who  have reaped down  fields,  which  is of  kept back by fraud,  crieth:  and  the cries  of them which have reaped  are entered  into  the ears  of the Lord  of sabaoth.  [5] Ye have lived in pleasure  on  the earth,  and  been wanton;  ye have nourished  hearts,  in  a day  of slaughter.  [6] Ye have condemned  and killed  the just;  not  resist 

What does James 5:1-6 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

It is characteristic of James" well-balanced style that he opened and closed his exhortations (in James 2:1 to James 5:6) with references to the rich. There is also a return in this chapter to encouragement to persevere in the will of God when tempted to depart from it (cf. ch1). Thus the book demonstrates a somewhat chiastic structure.
". . . wealth brings consternation [1], ends up in corrosion [2], and results in condemnation [3]." [4]