The Wisdom of God

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is ^(A)foolishness to ^(B)those who ^[a]are perishing, but to us who ^[b]are being saved it is ^(C)the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

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

²⁶ For ^[g]consider your ^(V)calling, brothers and sisters, that there were ^(W)not many wise according to ^[h]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷ but ^(X)God has chosen the foolish things of ^(Y)the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of ^(Z)the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸ and the ^[i]insignificant things of ^(AA)the world and the despised God has chosen, ^(AB)the things that are not, so that He may ^(AC)nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that ^(AD)no ^[j]human may boast before God. ³⁰ But it is ^[k]due to Him that you are in ^(AE)Christ Jesus, who became to us ^(AF)wisdom from God, ^[l]and ^(AG)righteousness and ^(AH)sanctification, and ^(AI)redemption, ³¹ so that, just as it is written: “^(AJ)Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

¹² For all who have sinned ^[a](A)without the Law will also perish ^[b]without the Law, and all who have sinned ^[c]under the Law will be judged ^[d]by the Law; ¹³ for it is ^(B)not the hearers ^[e]of the Law who are ^[f]righteous before God, but the doers ^[g]of the Law who will be justified. ¹⁴ For when Gentiles who do not have ^[h]the Law ^[i](C)instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having ^[j]the Law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵ in that they show ^(D)the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, ¹⁶ on the day when, ^(E)according to my gospel, ^(F)God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.