Veritable King James Version
1Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.
2Your riches have rotted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
3Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.
4Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
5You have lived in luxury on the earth and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
6You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, who does not resist you.
7Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it until it receives the early and late rains.
8You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
10As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
12But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
13Is anyone among you suffering? Let them pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let them sing praise.
14Is anyone among you sick? Let them call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.
15And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up. And if they have committed sins, they will be forgiven.
16Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
17Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
18Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
19My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings them back,
20let them know that whoever brings back a sinner from their wandering will save their soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Translation notes
“You” translates “ὑμεῖς,” gender-neutral, addressing the wealthy, per the NA28. “Come now” renders “ἄγε νῦν,” echoing James 4:13 and the KJV’s rhetorical call. “Riches have rotted” and “garments are moth-eaten” translate “πλοῦτος σέσηπεν” and “ἱμάτια σητόβρωτα,” per the NA28, preserving the KJV’s decay imagery (cf. Matthew 6:19–20). “Last days” renders “ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις,” echoing the KJV’s eschatological tone.
“Laborers” and “harvesters” translate “ἐργατῶν” and “θεριστῶν,” gender-neutral, per the NA28. Capitalized “Lord of hosts” follows instructions, rendering “Κυρίου Σαβαὼθ,” echoing the KJV’s Old Testament title (cf. Isaiah 5:9). “Kept back by fraud” translates “ἀπεστερημένος,” per the NA28, echoing the KJV’s injustice theme. “Righteous person” renders “τὸν δίκαιον,” gender-neutral, preserving the KJV’s moral critique.
“Brothers” and “you” translate “ἀδελφοί” and “ὑμεῖς,” gender-neutral for believers, per the NA28. Capitalized “Lord” follows instructions, referring to Jesus. “Coming of the Lord” renders “παρουσίας τοῦ Κυρίου,” echoing the KJV’s eschatological hope (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:15). “Early and late rains” translates “πρόϊμον καὶ ὄψιμον,” per the NA28, preserving the KJV’s agricultural metaphor for patience.
“Brothers” translates “ἀδελφοί,” gender-neutral, per the NA28. Capitalized “Judge” and “Lord” follow instructions, referring to Jesus and God. “Grumble” renders “στενάζετε,” echoing James 4:11’s speech ethics and the KJV. “Judge is standing at the door” translates “κριτὴς πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν,” per the NA28, echoing the KJV’s imminent judgment (cf. Matthew 24:33). “Prophets” links to James 2:21–25’s examples.
“Brothers” and “you” translate “ἀδελφοί” and “ὑμεῖς,” gender-neutral, per the NA28. Capitalized “Lord” follows instructions. “Steadfastness of Job” renders “ὑπομονὴν Ἰώβ,” per the NA28, echoing the KJV’s reference to Job’s endurance (cf. Job 1–2). “Compassionate and merciful” translates “πολύσπλαγχνος καὶ οἰκτίρμων,” echoing Psalm 103:8. “Do not swear” aligns with Matthew 5:34–37, per the KJV.
“Anyone” and “them” translate “τις” and “αὐτός,” gender-neutral, per the NA28. Capitalized “Lord” follows instructions. “Elders” renders “πρεσβυτέρους,” gender-neutral for church leaders, per the NA28. “Anointing with oil” translates “ἀλείψαντες ἐλαίῳ,” echoing the KJV’s ritual (cf. Mark 6:13). “Prayer of faith” and “save the sick” render “εὐχὴ τῆς πίστεως” and “σώσει τὸν κάμνοντα,” preserving the KJV’s healing emphasis.
“You” and “one another” translate “ὑμεῖς” and “ἀλλήλοις,” gender-neutral, per the NA28. “Righteous person” renders “δικαίου,” gender-neutral, echoing verse 6. “Great power as it is working” translates “πολὺ ἰσχύει…ἐνεργουμένη,” per the NA28, modernizing the KJV’s “effectual fervent prayer.” “Elijah” references 1 Kings 17–18, with “three years and six months” aligning with Luke 4:25, per the KJV.
“Brothers,” “anyone,” and “someone” translate “ἀδελφοί,” “τις,” and “ὁ,” gender-neutral, per the NA28. “Wanders from the truth” renders “πλανηθῇ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας,” echoing the KJV’s concern for apostasy. “Cover a multitude of sins” translates “καλύψει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν,” per the NA28, echoing 1 Peter 4:8 and Proverbs 10:12, preserving the KJV’s redemptive close.
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