³¹ Then someone told David, saying, ^(A)“Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, ^(B)turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

²³ Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to ^(A)his house, to his city. Then he ^[a]put his ^(B)household in order, and ^(C)hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.

¹⁴ So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For ^(A)the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.

^15 (A)This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

¹⁶ In that day Egypt will ^(H)be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, ^(I)which He waves over it. ¹⁷ And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which He has ^(J)determined against it.

Egypt, Assyria, and Israel Blessed

¹⁸ In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will ^(K)speak the language of Canaan and ^(L)swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of ^[d]Destruction.

¹⁹ In that day ^(M)there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the ^(N)Lord at its border. ²⁰ And ^(O)it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a ^(P)Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. ²¹ Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will ^(Q)know the Lord in that day, and ^(R)will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. ²² And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and ^(S)heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them.

²³ In that day ^(T)there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will ^(U)serve with the Assyrians.

²⁴ In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, ²⁵ whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria ^(V)the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

²³ Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel ^(A)both with David and with Absalom.

Avoid Worldly Wisdom

^18 (A)Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ^(B)“He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; ²⁰ and again, ^(C)“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

^20 (A)Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the ^[a]disputer of this age? ^(B)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?