James 1:9-11

1:9 Now the believer ¹  of humble means ²  should take pride ³  in his high position. ⁴  1:10 But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow. ⁵  1:11 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. ⁶  So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.

[1:9]  ¹ 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).

[1:9]  ² tn Grk “the lowly brother,” but “lowly/humble” is clarified in context by the contrast with “wealthy” in v. 10.

[1:9]  ³ tn Grk “let him boast.”

[1:9]  ⁴ tn Grk “his height,” “his exaltation.”

[1:10]  ⁵ tn Grk “a flower of grass.”

[1:11]  ⁶ tn Or “perishes,” “is destroyed.”