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James 4:9

James 4:9
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

My Notes

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Baptist theologian, 1697–1771

Gill's Exposition

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep,.... Not in a bare external way; not by afflicting the body with fastings and scourgings, by renting of garments, and clothing with sackcloth, and putting ashes on…

Presbyterian pastor, 1798–1870

Barnes' Notes

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep - That is, evidently, on account of your sins. The sins to which the apostle refers are those which he had specified in the previous part of the chapter, and which he…

Methodist theologian, 1762–1832

Adam Clarke

Be afflicted, and mourn - Without true and deep repentance ye cannot expect the mercy of God.

Let your laughter be turned to mourning - It appears most evidently that many of those to whom St. James…

Nonconformist minister, 1662–1714

Matthew Henry

James 4:1-10

The former chapter speaks of envying one another, as the great spring of strifes and contentions; this chapter speaks of a lust after worldly things, and a setting too great a value upon worldly…

Academic commentary, 1882–1921

Cambridge Bible

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep The words are nearly synonymous, the first pointing to the sense of misery (as in "O wretchedman that I am" in Rom 7:24), the second to its general effect on…