²¹ Moreover you shall select from all the people ^(A)able men, such as ^(B)fear God, ^(C)men of truth, ^(D)hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? ^(A)Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. ⁴ For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Qualities Needed in Trials

^19 [a]So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, ^(A)slow to speak, ^(B)slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

¹⁴ But if you have ^(A)bitter envy and ^[a]self-seeking in your hearts, ^(B)do not boast and lie against the truth. ^15 (C)This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For ^(D)where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But ^(E)the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, ^(F)without partiality ^(G)and without hypocrisy. ^18 (H)Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.