James 5:1

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Warning to the Rich Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Deut 8:12-14 : 12 When you eat your fill, when you build and occupy good houses, 13 when your cattle and flocks increase, when you have plenty of silver and gold, and when you have abundance of everything, 14 be sure you do not feel self-important and forget the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery,
  • Isa 13:6 : 6 Wail, for the LORD’s day of judgment is near; it comes with all the destructive power of the Sovereign One.
  • Luke 6:24-25 : 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already. 25 “Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry.“Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
  • Prov 11:28 : 28 The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
  • Jas 4:13 : 13 Come now, you who say,“Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”
  • Rev 6:15-17 : 15 Then the kings of the earth, the very important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They said to the mountains and to the rocks,“Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”
  • Eccl 5:13-14 : 13 Materialism Thwarts Enjoyment of Life Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery. 14 Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.
  • Luke 12:16-21 : 16 He then told them a parable:“The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, 17 so he thought to himself,‘What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said,‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to myself,“You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!”’ 20 But God said to him,‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”
  • Luke 16:19-25 : 19 The Rich Man and Lazarus“There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 But at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus whose body was covered with sores, 21 who longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. In addition, the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And in Hades, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. 24 So he called out,‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this fire.’ 25 But Abraham said,‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.
  • Luke 23:28-29 : 28 But Jesus turned to them and said,“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say,‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!’
  • 1 Tim 6:9-9 : 9 Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.
  • Jas 1:11 : 11 For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.
  • Jas 2:6 : 6 But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?
  • Jas 4:9 : 9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair.
  • Isa 22:12-13 : 12 At that time the Sovereign LORD of Heaven’s Armies, called for weeping and mourning, for shaved heads and sackcloth. 13 But look, there is outright celebration! You say,“Kill the ox and slaughter the sheep, eat meat and drink wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
  • Jer 4:8 : 8 So put on sackcloth! Mourn and wail, saying,‘The fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us!’”
  • Jer 9:23 : 23 The LORD says,“Wise people should not boast that they are wise. Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful. Rich people should not boast that they are rich.
  • Ezek 19:2 : 2 and say:“‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay among young lions; she reared her cubs.
  • Joel 1:5 : 5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you wine drinkers, because the sweet wine has been taken away from you.
  • Joel 1:11 : 11 Be distressed, farmers; wail, vinedressers, over the wheat and the barley. For the harvest of the field has perished.
  • Joel 1:13 : 13 Get dressed and lament, you priests! Wail, you who minister at the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you servants of my God, because no one brings grain offerings or drink offerings to the temple of your God anymore.
  • Amos 6:6-7 : 6 They drink wine from sacrificial bowls, and pour the very best oils on themselves. Yet they are not concerned over the ruin of Joseph. 7 Therefore they will now be the first to go into exile, and the religious banquets where they sprawl on couches will end.
  • Mic 6:12 : 12 The city’s wealthy people readily resort to violence; her inhabitants tell lies, their tongues speak deceptive words.
  • Zeph 1:18 : 18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s angry judgment. The whole earth will be consumed by his fiery wrath. Indeed, he will bring terrifying destruction on all who live on the earth.”
  • Zech 11:2-3 : 2 Howl, fir tree, because the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees have been destroyed. Howl, oaks of Bashan, because the impenetrable forest has fallen. 3 Listen to the howling of shepherds, because their magnificence has been destroyed. Listen to the roaring of young lions, because the thickets of the Jordan have been devastated.
  • Matt 19:23-24 : 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples,“I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 24 Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.”
  • Deut 32:15 : 15 Israel’s Rebellion But Jeshurun became fat and kicked, you got fat, thick, and stuffed! Then he deserted the God who made him, and treated the Rock who saved him with contempt.
  • Neh 9:25-26 : 25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took possession of houses full of all sorts of good things– wells previously dug, vineyards, olive trees, and fruit trees in abundance. They ate until they were full and grew fat. They enjoyed to the full your great goodness. 26 “Nonetheless they grew disobedient and rebelled against you; they disregarded your law. They killed your prophets who had solemnly admonished them in order to cause them to return to you. They committed atrocious blasphemies.
  • Job 20:15-29 : 15 The wealth that he consumed he vomits up, God will make him throw it out of his stomach. 16 He sucks the poison of serpents; the fangs of a viper kill him. 17 He will not look on the streams, the rivers, which are the torrents of honey and butter. 18 He gives back the ill-gotten gain without assimilating it; he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce. 19 For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build. 20 For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite; he does not let anything he desires escape. 21 “Nothing is left for him to devour; that is why his prosperity does not last. 22 In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress overtakes him. The full force of misery will come upon him. 23 “While he is filling his belly, God sends his burning anger against him, and rains down his blows upon him. 24 If he flees from an iron weapon, then an arrow from a bronze bow pierces him. 25 When he pulls it out and it comes out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver, terrors come over him. 26 Total darkness waits to receive his treasures; a fire which has not been kindled will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. 27 The heavens reveal his iniquity; the earth rises up against him. 28 A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath. 29 Such is the lot God allots the wicked, and the heritage of his appointment from God.”
  • Ps 17:14 : 14 LORD, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.
  • Ps 49:6-9 : 6 They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches. 7 Certainly a man cannot rescue his brother; he cannot pay God an adequate ransom price 8 (the ransom price for a human life is too high, and people go to their final destiny), 9 so that he might continue to live forever and not experience death. 10 Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves, 12 but, despite their wealth, people do not last, they are like animals that perish. 13 This is the destiny of fools, and of those who approve of their philosophy.(Selah) 14 They will travel to Sheol like sheep, with death as their shepherd. The godly will rule over them when the day of vindication dawns; Sheol will consume their bodies and they will no longer live in impressive houses. 15 But God will rescue my life from the power of Sheol; certainly he will pull me to safety.(Selah) 16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his wealth multiplies! 17 For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave. 18 He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive:“May men praise you, for you have done well!” 19 But he will join his ancestors; they will never again see the light of day. 20 Wealthy people do not understand; they are like animals that perish.
  • Ps 73:3-9 : 3 For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they suffer no pain; their bodies are strong and well-fed. 5 They are immune to the trouble common to men; they do not suffer as other men do. 6 Arrogance is their necklace, and violence covers them like clothing. 7 Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful. 8 They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence. 9 They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth.
  • Ps 73:18-20 : 18 Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin. 19 How desolate they become in a mere moment! Terrifying judgments make their demise complete! 20 They are like a dream after one wakes up. O Lord, when you awake you will despise them.
  • Prov 11:4 : 4 Wealth does not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Jas 5:2-5
    4 verses
    85%

    2Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten.

    3Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure!

    4Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

    5You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

  • Luke 6:24-25
    2 verses
    79%

    24“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already.

    25“Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry.“Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

  • Eccl 5:13-14
    2 verses
    74%

    13Materialism Thwarts Enjoyment of Life Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.

    14Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.

  • Jas 2:5-6
    2 verses
    74%

    5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

    6But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts?

  • Prov 22:16
    73%

    16The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the one who gives to the rich– both end up only in poverty.

  • Rev 18:15-17
    3 verses
    73%

    15The merchants who sold these things, who got rich from her, will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment. They will weep and mourn,

    16saying,“Woe, woe, O great city– dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls–

    17because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!” And every ship’s captain, and all who sail along the coast– seamen, and all who make their living from the sea, stood a long way off

  • 1 Tim 6:9
    73%

    9Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

  • Amos 5:11-12
    2 verses
    72%

    11Therefore, because you make the poor pay taxes on their crops and exact a grain tax from them, you will not live in the houses you built with chiseled stone, nor will you drink the wine from the fine vineyards you planted.

    12Certainly I am aware of your many rebellious acts and your numerous sins. You torment the innocent, you take bribes, and you deny justice to the needy at the city gate.

  • Prov 10:15
    72%

    15The wealth of a rich person is like a fortified city, but the poor are brought to ruin by their poverty.

  • Jas 1:10-11
    2 verses
    72%

    10But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow.

    11For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.

  • Jas 4:9
    72%

    9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair.

  • Rev 3:17
    72%

    17Because you say,“I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing,” but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,

  • Jas 4:13
    72%

    13Come now, you who say,“Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”

  • Luke 18:23-25
    3 verses
    71%

    23But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy.

    24When Jesus noticed this, he said,“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

    25In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

  • Matt 19:23-24
    2 verses
    71%

    23Then Jesus said to his disciples,“I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!

    24Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.”

  • Prov 6:11
    71%

    11and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need like an armed man.

  • Prov 28:22
    71%

    22The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him.

  • 1 Tim 6:17
    71%

    17Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.

  • Prov 5:11
    70%

    11And at the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are wasted away.

  • Mark 10:25
    70%

    25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

  • Prov 13:7
    70%

    7There is one who pretends to be rich and yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor and yet possesses great wealth.

  • Prov 24:34
    70%

    34and your poverty will come like a bandit, and your need like an armed robber.”

  • Rev 18:19
    70%

    19And they threw dust on their heads and were shouting with weeping and mourning,“Woe, Woe, O great city– in which all those who had ships on the sea got rich from her wealth– because in a single hour she has been destroyed!”

  • Amos 8:4
    70%

    4Listen to this, you who trample the needy, and do away with the destitute in the land.

  • Jas 4:16
    70%

    16But as it is, you boast about your arrogant plans. All such boasting is evil.

  • Job 27:19
    69%

    19He goes to bed wealthy, but will do so no more. When he opens his eyes, it is all gone.

  • Luke 12:21
    69%

    21So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.”

  • Luke 6:20-21
    2 verses
    69%

    20Then he looked up at his disciples and said:“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.

    21“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

  • Job 4:5
    69%

    5But now the same thing comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are terrified.

  • Prov 21:13
    69%

    13The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and will not be answered.

  • Luke 16:19
    69%

    19The Rich Man and Lazarus“There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.

  • Mark 10:23
    69%

    23Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

  • Prov 28:11
    69%

    11A rich person is wise in his own opinion, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.

  • Matt 5:3
    69%

    3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

  • Job 22:5
    69%

    5Is not your wickedness great and is there no end to your iniquity?