18 (A)Let no one deceive himself. (B)If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For (C)the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, (D)“He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, (E)“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So (F)let no one boast in men. For (G)all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and (H)you are Christ's, and (I)Christ is God's.

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18 Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say,

“He traps the wise
    in the snare of their own cleverness.”[a]

20 And again,

“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise;
    he knows they are worthless.”[b]

21 So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you— 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Peter,[c] or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:19 Job 5:13.
  2. 3:20 Ps 94:11.
  3. 3:22 Greek Cephas.