³¹ Now David had been told, “Ahithophel^(A) is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

²⁰ Where is the wise person?^(A) Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?^(B) Has not God made foolish^(C) the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world^(D) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save^(E) those who believe.^{(F) 22} Jews demand signs^(G) and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified:^(H) a stumbling block^(I) to Jews and foolishness^(J) to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called,^(K) both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^(L) and the wisdom of God.^{(M) 25} For the foolishness^(N) of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^(O) of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.^(P) Not many of you were wise^(Q) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose^(R) the foolish^(S) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

⁶ His face turned pale^(A) and he was so frightened^(B) that his legs became weak^(C) and his knees were knocking.^(D)

⁷ The king summoned the enchanters,^(E) astrologers^[a](F) and diviners.^(G) Then he said to these wise^(H) men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck,^(I) and he will be made the third^(J) highest ruler in the kingdom.”^(K)

⁸ Then all the king’s wise men^(L) came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.^(M)