James 4:9 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

⁹ Be distressed and grieve and cry [over your sins]; your laughter should turn into grieving and your joy [should turn] into sorrow.

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

⁹ [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Common English Bible

⁹ Cry out in sorrow, mourn, and weep! Let your laughter become mourning and your joy become sadness.

Catholic Public Domain Version

⁹ Be afflicted: mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your gladness into sorrow.

James 4:9 Cross References

Matthew 5:4

“Those persons who feel grief [over their sins] are blessed because they will receive comfort [from God when they repent].

Luke 6:25

It is too bad for you people who have plenty to eat now, because you will be hungry [later on]. It is too bad for you people who are laughing now, because you will grieve and cry [later on].

Luke 16:25

But Abraham said [to him], ‘Son, remember how you enjoyed good things when you were alive [on earth] and how Lazarus had to put up with bad things? But now here [i.e., in the unseen place of departed spirits] he is being comforted and you are in agony.

Luke 6:21

Those of you who now have an appetite [i.e., for doing what is right] are blessed, because you will be satisfied [eventually]. Those of you who cry now [i.e., over your sins] are blessed, because you will laugh [i.e., when you are forgiven later].

Matthew 21:41

They answered him; “He will bring terrible destruction on those evil men and will lease the vineyard to other tenant farmers who will deliver the crops to him each harvest time.”