²¹ ·In the wisdom of God the world did [or God wisely determined that the world would] not know God through its own wisdom. So God ·chose [was pleased] to use the ·message that sounds foolish [^Lfolly/foolishness of what was preached] to save those who believe.

¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: ·Blessed [or Happy] are the dead who die from now on in the Lord.”

The Spirit says, “Yes, they will rest from their hard work, ·and the reward of all they have done stays with them [^Lfor their deeds will follow them].”