9. Those Christians who are poor must be glad when God lifts them up,
10. and the rich Christians must be glad when God brings them down. For the rich will pass away like the flower of a wild plant.
11. The sun rises with its blazing heat and burns the plant; its flower falls off, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way the rich will be destroyed while they go about their business.
12. Happy are those who remain faithful under trials, because when they succeed in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him.
13. If people are tempted by such trials, they must not say, “This temptation comes from God.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.
14. But people are tempted when they are drawn away and trapped by their own evil desires.
15. Then their evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16. Do not be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters!
17. Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning.
18. By his own will he brought us into being through the word of truth, so that we should have first place among all his creatures.
19. Remember this, my dear brothers and sisters! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry.
20. Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose.
21. So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you.
22. Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice.