James 4:9

Translations

Modern

Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.

Traditional

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Literal

Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and the joy to gloom.

Latin

Miseri estote, et lugete, et plorate: risus vester in luctum convertatur, et gaudium in mœrorem.

Original

Greek

English

Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.

Notes

James 4:4–10

James explains the causes of conflict among people: love for the world, divided loyalty, and arrogant criticism (4:11–12). He gives instructions that will fix these problems and lead to peace.

Theme notes and profiles

James, Brother of Jesus The Coming of the Lord as Judge

Related verses

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
2 Corinthians 7:10–11
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Luke 6:25
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Proverbs 14:13
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.
James 5:1–2
Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
Psalm 119:67
Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your word.
Jeremiah 31:18–20
I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.
Ecclesiastes 7:2–6
It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.
Ezekiel 16:63
…so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your disgrace, declares the Lord GOD.”
Revelation 18:7–8
As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’
Ezekiel 7:16
The survivors will escape and live in the mountains, moaning like doves of the valley, each for his own iniquity.
Luke 16:25
But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.

Glossary

Letter of James Mourning

Topics

Commandments: Other Apostles: Precepts of, Explicitly Stated or Implied in Didactic Epistles Joy of the Wicked Joy of the Wicked: should be Turned Into Mourning Repentance: should be Accompanied by Humility Repentance: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Worldliness: General Scriptures Concerning

James 4:9

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