The wealthy are condemned for their corruption and mistreatment of workers, and are warned that their riches will ultimately lead to their downfall. In contrast, the faithful are encouraged to be patient and to strengthen their hearts, awaiting the Lord's return. Believers are also advised to live virtuously, avoiding oaths and instead letting their words be truthful, and to seek prayer and healing in times of need. The chapter concludes by emphasizing the power of prayer and the importance of converting sinners back to the truth.
1 Act now, you who are wealthy! Weep and wail in your miseries, which will soon come upon you 2 Your riches have been corrupted, and your garments have been eaten by moths 3 Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be a testimony against you, and it will eat away at your flesh like fire. You have stored up wrath for yourselves unto the last days 4 Consider the pay of the workers who reaped your fields: it has been misappropriated by you; it cries out. And their cry has entered into the ears of the Lord of hosts 5 You have feasted upon the earth, and you have nourished your hearts with luxuries, unto the day of slaughter 6 You led away and killed the Just One, and he did not resist you 7 Therefore, be patient, brothers, until the advent of the Lord. Consider that the farmer anticipates the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently, until he receives the early and the late rains 8 Therefore, you too should be patient and should strengthen your hearts. For the advent of the Lord draws near 9 Brothers, do not complain against one another, so that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge stands before the door 10 My brothers, consider the Prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of departing from evil, of labor, and of patience 11 Consider that we beatify those who have endured. You have heard of the patient suffering of Job. And you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate 12 But before all things, my brothers, do not choose to swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor in any other oath. But let your word ‘Yes’ be yes, and your word ‘No’ be no, so that you may not fall under judgment 13 Is any of you sad? Let him pray. Is he even-tempered? Let him sing psalms 14 Is anyone ill among you? Let him bring in the priests of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord 15 And a prayer of faith will save the infirm, and the Lord will alleviate him. And if he has sins, these will be forgiven him 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be saved. For the unremitting prayer of a just person prevails over many things 17 Elijah was a mortal man like us, and in prayer he prayed that it would not rain upon the earth. And it did not rain for three years and six months 18 And he prayed again. And the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit 19 My brothers, if anyone of you strays from the truth, and if someone converts him 20 he ought to know that whoever causes a sinner to be converted from the error of his ways will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins