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1 Corinthians 1:17-25
English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 1:17-25
English Standard Version
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and (A)not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18 For the word of the cross is (B)folly to (C)those who are perishing, but to us (D)who are being saved it is (E)the power of God. 19 For it is written,
(F)“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 (G)Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? (H)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[a] to save those who believe. 22 For (I)Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ (J)crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (K)the power of God and (L)the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:21 Or the folly of preaching
1 Corinthians 1:17-25
New International Version
1 Corinthians 1:17-25
New International Version
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize,(A) but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom(B) and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness(C) to those who are perishing,(D) but to us who are being saved(E) it is the power of God.(F) 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[a](G)
20 Where is the wise person?(H) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?(I) Has not God made foolish(J) the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world(K) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save(L) those who believe.(M) 22 Jews demand signs(N) and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified:(O) a stumbling block(P) to Jews and foolishness(Q) to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called,(R) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God(S) and the wisdom of God.(T) 25 For the foolishness(U) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness(V) of God is stronger than human strength.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 1:19 Isaiah 29:14
Psalm 33:1-5
English Standard Version
Psalm 33:1-5
English Standard Version
The Steadfast Love of the Lord
33 (A)Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
(B)Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the (C)lyre;
make melody to him with (D)the harp of (E)ten strings!
3 Sing to him (F)a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in (G)faithfulness.
5 He (H)loves righteousness and justice;
(I)the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
Psalm 33:1-5
New International Version
Psalm 33:1-5
New International Version
Psalm 33:10-11
English Standard Version
Psalm 33:10-11
English Standard Version
10 The Lord (A)brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 (B)The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
Matthew 25:1-13
English Standard Version
Matthew 25:1-13
English Standard Version
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like (A)ten virgins who took their lamps[a] and went to meet (B)the bridegroom.[b] 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were (C)wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom (D)was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But (E)at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and (F)trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and (G)those who were ready went in with him to (H)the marriage feast, and (I)the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, (J)‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 (K)But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, (L)I do not know you.’ 13 (M)Watch therefore, for you (N)know neither the day nor the hour.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 25:1 Or torches
- Matthew 25:1 Some manuscripts add and the bride
Matthew 25:1-13
New International Version
Matthew 25:1-13
New International Version
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like(A) ten virgins who took their lamps(B) and went out to meet the bridegroom.(C) 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.(D) 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.(E)
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’(F)
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.(G) And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’(H)
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.(I)
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.