James 5:5

5:5 You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. ¹ 

James 5:8

5:8 You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.

James 1:21

1:21 So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly ²  welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.

James 5:16

5:16 So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness. ³ 

James 5:3-4

5:3 Your 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! ⁴  5:4 Look, 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 hosts.

¹ sn James’ point seems to be that instead of seeking deliverance from condemnation, they have defied God’s law (fattened your hearts) and made themselves more likely objects of his judgment (in a day of slaughter).

² tn Or “with meekness.”

³ tn Or “the fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful”; Grk “is very powerful in its working.”

⁴ tn Or “hoarded up treasure for the last days”; Grk “in the last days.”