James 5:2

2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.

James 5:2 in Other Translations

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.

2 Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags.

2 Your money is corrupt and your fine clothes stink.

2 Your wealth is ruined: your clothes are moth-eaten;

James 5:2 Meaning and Commentary

James 5:2

Your riches are corrupted
Either through disuse of them; and so the phrase is expressive of their tenaciousness, withholding that from themselves and others which is meet, and which is keeping riches for the owners thereof, to their hurt; or these are corrupted, and are corruptible things, fading and perishing, and will stand in no stead in the day of wrath, and therefore it is great weakness to put any trust and confidence in them:

and your garments are moth eaten;
being neither wore by themselves, nor put upon the backs of others, as they should, but laid up in wardrobes, or in chests and coffers, and so became the repast of moths, and now good for nothing.

James 5:2 In-Context

1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.

2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.

3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.

4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.

5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

Cross References

• 1. Job 13:28; Psalms 39:11; Isaiah 50:9; Matthew 6:19,20