18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise(A) by the standards of this age,(B) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness(C) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a];(D) 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b](E) 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders!(F) All things are yours,(G) 22 whether Paul or Apollos(H) or Cephas[c](I) or the world or life or death or the present or the future(J)—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ,(K) and Christ is of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13
  2. 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11
  3. 1 Corinthians 3:22 That is, Peter

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.