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Now the believer[a] of humble means[b] should take pride[c] in his high position.[d] 10 But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow.[e] 11 For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever.[f] So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:9 tn Grk “brother.” Here the term “brother” means “fellow believer” or “fellow Christian” (cf. TEV, NLT “Christians”; CEV “God’s people”). The term broadly connotes familial relationships within the family of God (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.a).
  2. James 1:9 tn Grk “the lowly brother,” but “lowly/humble” is clarified in context by the contrast with “wealthy” in v. 10.
  3. James 1:9 tn Grk “let him boast.”
  4. James 1:9 tn Grk “his height,” “his exaltation.”
  5. James 1:10 tn Grk “a flower of grass.”
  6. James 1:11 tn Or “perishes,” “is destroyed.”

Poverty and Riches

Let the brother or sister of humble means boast in having a high position 10 and the rich in having been humbled, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field.(A) 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.

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Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.(A) 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.(B) 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat(C) and withers(D) the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.(E) In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

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