19 For it is written,

(A)I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”

20 (B)Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of (C)this age? Has not God (D)made foolish the wisdom of (E)the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God (F)the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, (G)God was well-pleased through the (H)foolishness of the [a]message preached to (I)save those who believe. 22 For indeed (J)Jews ask for [b]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach [c](K)Christ crucified, (L)to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles (M)foolishness, 24 but to those who are (N)the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (O)the power of God and (P)the wisdom of God. 25 Because the (Q)foolishness of God is wiser than men, and (R)the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For [d]consider your (S)calling, brethren, that there were (T)not many wise according to [e]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but (U)God has chosen the foolish things of (V)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of (W)the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of (X)the world and the despised God has chosen, (Y)the things that are not, so that He may (Z)nullify the things that are, 29 so that (AA)no [f]man may boast before God. 30 But [g]by His doing you are in (AB)Christ Jesus, who became to us (AC)wisdom from God, [h]and (AD)righteousness and (AE)sanctification, and (AF)redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “(AG)Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:21 Lit preaching
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:22 Or attesting miracles
  3. 1 Corinthians 1:23 I.e. Messiah
  4. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Lit see
  5. 1 Corinthians 1:26 I.e. human standards
  6. 1 Corinthians 1:29 Lit flesh
  7. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Lit of Him
  8. 1 Corinthians 1:30 Or both

18 (A)Let no man deceive himself. (B)If any man among you thinks that he is wise in (C)this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.

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19 For you, (A)being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.

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