Boasting Only in the Lord

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective,^[a] not many powerful,^(A) not many of noble birth. ²⁷ Instead, God has chosen^(B) what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world^(C)—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, ²⁹ so that no one^[b] may boast in his presence.^{(D) 30} It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness,^(E) sanctification,^(F) and redemption^(G)— ³¹ in order that, as it is written:^(H) Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.^[c](I)

⁸ For you are saved by grace^(A) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created^(B) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time^(C) for us to do.