Santiago 5:1

1 Advertencia para los ricos
Presten atención, ustedes los ricos: lloren y giman con angustia por todas las calamidades que les esperan.

Santiago 5:1 Meaning and Commentary

James 5:1

Go to now, ye rich men
All rich men are not here designed; there are some rich men who are good men, and make a good use of their riches, and do not abuse them, as these here are represented; and yet wicked rich men, or those that were the openly profane, are not here intended neither; for the apostle only writes to such who were within the church, and not without, who were professors of religion; and such rich men are addressed here, who, notwithstanding their profession, were not rich towards God, but laid up treasure for themselves, and trusted in their riches, and boasted of the multitude of their wealth; and did not trust in God, and make use of their substance to his glory, and the good of his interest, as they should have done:

weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you;
meaning, not temporal calamities that should come upon them at the destruction of Jerusalem, in which the rich greatly suffered by the robbers among themselves, as well as by the Roman soldiers; for the apostle is not writing to the Jews in Judea, and at Jerusalem; but to the Christians of the twelve tribes scattered in the several parts of the world, and who were not distressed by that calamity; but eternal miseries, or the torments of hell are intended, which, unless they repented of their sins, would shortly, suddenly, and unavoidably come upon them, when their present joy and laughter would be turned into howling and weeping.

Santiago 5:1 In-Context

1 Advertencia para los ricos
Presten atención, ustedes los ricos: lloren y giman con angustia por todas las calamidades que les esperan.

2 Su riqueza se está pudriendo, y su ropa fina son trapos carcomidos por polillas.

3 Su oro y plata han perdido su valor. Las mismas riquezas con las que contaban les consumirán la carne como lo hace el fuego. El tesoro que han acumulado se usará como evidencia contra ustedes el día del juicio.

4 Así que ¡escuchen! Oigan las protestas de los obreros del campo a quienes estafaron con el salario. El dinero que no les pagaron clama en contra de ustedes. Los reclamos de quienes les cosechan sus campos han llegado a los oídos del Señor
de los Ejércitos Celestiales.

5 Sus años sobre la tierra los han pasado con lujos, satisfaciendo todos y cada uno de sus deseos. Se han dejado engordar para el día de la matanza.