SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:9
Afligíos, y lamentad, y llorad. Vuestra risa se convierta en lloro, y vuestro gozo en tristeza.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - James 4:9
Verse 9. 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 addressed this epistle had lived a very irregular and dissolute life. He had already spoken of their lust, and pleasures, and he had called them adulterers and adulteresses; and perhaps they were so in the grossest sense of the words. He speaks here of their laughter and their joy; and all the terms taken together show that a dissolute life is intended. What a strange view must he have of the nature of primitive Christianity, who can suppose that these words can possibly have been addressed to people professing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who were few in number, without wealth or consequence, and were persecuted and oppressed both by their brethren the Jews and by the Romans!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep , etc.] 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 the head, and other such outward methods of humiliation; but afflicting the soul is meant, an inward mourning and weeping over the plague of the heart, the impurity of nature, and the various sins of life; after a godly sort, and because contrary to a God of infinite love and grace; in an evangelical way, looking to Jesus, and being affected with the pardoning grace and love of God in Christ. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness ; meaning their carnal joy, on account of their friendship with the world, and their enjoyment of the things of it, since they consumed them on their lusts, and which betrayed enmity to God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our ow hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in the members Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow conten or satisfaction. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. And let us beware that we do no abuse or misuse the mercies received, by the disposition of the hear when prayers are granted When men ask of God prosperity, they often as with wrong aims and intentions. If we thus seek the things of thi world, it is just in God to deny them. Unbelieving and cold desires be denials; and we may be sure that when prayers are rather the languag of lusts than of graces, they will return empty. Here is a decide warning to avoid all criminal friendships with this world Worldly-mindedness is enmity to God. An enemy may be reconciled, but "enmity" never can be reconciled. A man may have a large portion in things of this life, and yet be kept in the love of God; but he wh sets his heart upon the world, who will conform to it rather than los its friendship, is an enemy to God. So that any one who resolves at all events to be upon friendly terms with the world, must be the enemy of God. Did then the Jews, or the loose professors of Christianity, thin the Scripture spake in vain against this worldly-mindedness? or doe the Holy Spirit who dwells in all Christians, or the new nature whic he creates, produce such fruit? Natural corruption shows itself by envying. The spirit of the world teaches us to lay up, or lay out for ourselves, according to our own fancies; God the Holy Spirit teaches u to be willing to do good to all about us, as we are able. The grace of God will correct and cure the spirit by nature in us; and where he gives grace, he gives another spirit than that of the world. The prou resist God: in their understanding they resist the truths of God; in their will they resist the laws of God; in their passions they resis the providence of God; therefore, no wonder that God resists the proud How wretched the state of those who make God their enemy! God will giv more grace to the humble, because they see their need of it, pray for it are thankful for it, and such shall have it. Submit to God, very #(7). Submit your understanding to the truth of God; submit your will to the will of his precept, the will of his providence. Submi yourselves to God, for he is ready to do you good. If we yield to temptations, the devil will continually follow us; but if we put on the whole armour of God, and stand out against him, he will leave us. Le sinners then submit to God, and seek his grace and favour; resistin the devil. All sin must be wept over; here, in godly sorrow, or hereafter, in eternal misery. And the Lord will not refuse to comfor one who really mourns for sin, or to exalt one who humbles himsel before him.
Greek Textus Receptus
ταλαιπωρησατε 5003 5657 και 2532 πενθησατε 3996 5657 και 2532 κλαυσατε 2799 5657 ο 3588 γελως 1071 υμων 5216 εις 1519 πενθος 3997 μεταστραφητω 3344 5649 και 2532 η 3588 χαρα 5479 εις 1519 κατηφειαν 2726
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. Be afflicted (talaipwrhsate). Only here in New Testament. The kindred noun talaipwria, misery, occurs ch. v. 1.
Mourn (penqhsate). Used of grief that is manifested. So mostly in New Testament, and very commonly joined, as here, with weep. So Mark xvi. 10; Luke vi. 25, etc. In the next sentence occurs the kindred noun penqov mourning, into which laughter, also something manifest, is to be changed. Heaviness (kathfeian). Properly, a casting down of the eyes. Compare Luke xviii. 13. Only here in New Testament.
