Jam 5:1 | RWP | e4.org | Come now, ye rich ( αγε νυν ο πλουσιο ). Exclamatory interjection as in . Direct address to the rich as a class as in . Apparently here James has in mind the rich as a class, whether believer, as in ., or unbeliever, as in ., . The plea here is not directly for reform, but a warning of certain judgment ( ) and for Christians "a certain grim comfort in the hardships of poverty" (Ropes) in . Weep and howl ( κλαυσατε ολολυζοντες ). "Burst into weeping (ingressive aorist active imperative of κλαιω as in ), howling with grief" (present active participle of the old onomatopoetic verb ολολυζω , here only in N.T., like Latin ululare , with which compare αλαλαζω in . For your miseries ( επ ταις ταλαιπωριαις υμων ). Old word from ταλαιπωρος ( ) and like ταλαιπωρεω in (from τλαω to endure and πωρος a callus). That are coming upon you ( ταις επερχομεναις ). Present middle participle of the old compound επερχομα to come upon, used here in futuristic prophetic sense.

‏ James 5:1

Come now, ye rich ( αγε νυν ο πλουσιο ). Exclamatory interjection as in 4:13. Direct address to the rich as a class as in 1Ti 6:17. Apparently here James has in mind the rich as a class, whether believer, as in 1:10f., or unbeliever, as in 2:1f.,6. The plea here is not directly for reform, but a warning of certain judgment (5:1-6) and for Christians "a certain grim comfort in the hardships of poverty" (Ropes) in 5:7-11.

Weep and howl ( κλαυσατε ολολυζοντες ). "Burst into weeping (ingressive aorist active imperative of κλαιω as in 4:9), howling with grief" (present active participle of the old onomatopoetic verb ολολυζω, here only in N.T., like Latin ululare, with which compare αλαλαζω in Mt 5:38.

For your miseries ( επ ταις ταλαιπωριαις υμων ). Old word from ταλαιπωρος (Ro 7:24) and like ταλαιπωρεω in Jas 4:9 (from τλαω to endure and πωρος a callus).

That are coming upon you ( ταις επερχομεναις ). Present middle participle of the old compound επερχομα to come upon, used here in futuristic prophetic sense.