2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you
face trials of many kinds, 3 because
you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that
you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask
God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be
given to you. 6 But when
you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is
like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive
anything from the Lord. 8 Such
a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their
high position. 10 But the rich
should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild
flower. 11 For the sun
rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls
and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even
while they go about their business.