en_tn/jas/05/03.md

# Your gold and your silver have become tarnished

Earthly riches do not last nor do they have any eternal value. James speaks of these events as if they had already happened. Alternate translation: "Your gold and silver will become tarnished" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-pastforfuture]])

# gold ... silver

These things are mentioned as examples of things that are valuable to wealthy people.

# have become tarnished ... their rust

Gold does not actually tarnish, and gold and silver do not actually rust. James wants to emphasize that these precious metals will be ruined. Alternate translation: "are ruined ... their ruined condition" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole]])

# their rust will be a witness against you. It

James wrote of their valuable things being ruined as if they were a person in a courtroom accusing the wicked of their crimes. Alternate translation: "and when God judges you, your ruined treasures will be like someone who accuses you in court. Their corrosion" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]] )

# will consume ... like fire

Here the corrosion is spoken of as if it were a fire that will burn up their owners. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# your flesh

Here "flesh" stands for the physical body. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])

# fire

The idea of fire here is meant to lead people to remember that fire often stands for God's punishment that will come on all the wicked. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# for the last days

This refers to the time right before God comes to judge all people. The wicked think they are storing up riches for the future, but what they are doing is storing up judgment. Alternate translation: "for when God is about to judge you" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy]])