⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:^(A) Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world^(B) to be rich in faith^(C) and to inherit the kingdom^(D) he promised those who love him?^(E)

²⁰ Looking at his disciples, he said:

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^(A) Not many of you were wise^(B) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose^(C) the foolish^(D) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not^(E)—to nullify the things that are,

⁹ For you know the grace^(A) of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(B) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,^(C) so that you through his poverty might become rich.^(D)

²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”^(A)

⁴ and into an inheritance^(A) that can never perish, spoil or fade.^(B) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,^(C)

¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial^(A) because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life^(B) that the Lord has promised to those who love him.^(C)