The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?

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The wise(A) will be put to shame;
    they will be dismayed(B) and trapped.(C)
Since they have rejected the word(D) of the Lord,
    what kind of wisdom(E) do they have?

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15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.

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15 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
    No, they have no shame at all;
    they do not even know how to blush.(A)
So they will fall among the fallen;
    they will be brought down when I punish(B) them,”
says the Lord.

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98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

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98 Your commands are always with me
    and make me wiser(A) than my enemies.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
    for I meditate on your statutes.(B)
100 I have more understanding than the elders,
    for I obey your precepts.(C)

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12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.

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12 He thwarts the plans(A) of the crafty,
    so that their hands achieve no success.(B)

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18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

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Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness(A) to those who are perishing,(B) but to us who are being saved(C) it is the power of God.(D) 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[a](E)

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

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.(U) Not many of you were wise(V) by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose(W) the foolish(X) things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not(Y)—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.(Z)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:19 Isaiah 29:14

19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

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19 Hear, you earth:(A)
    I am bringing disaster(B) on this people,
    the fruit of their schemes,(C)
because they have not listened to my words(D)
    and have rejected my law.(E)

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11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

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11 The officials of Zoan(A) are nothing but fools;
    the wise counselors(B) of Pharaoh give senseless advice.(C)
How can you say to Pharaoh,
    “I am one of the wise men,(D)
    a disciple of the ancient kings”?

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The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

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The law of the Lord(A) is perfect,(B)
    refreshing the soul.(C)
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,(D)
    making wise the simple.(E)

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Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

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Observe(A) them carefully, for this will show your wisdom(B) and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”(C)

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15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

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15 and how from infancy(A) you have known the Holy Scriptures,(B) which are able to make you wise(C) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

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26 Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.

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26 Calamity upon calamity(A) will come,
    and rumor upon rumor.
They will go searching for a vision from the prophet,(B)
    priestly instruction in the law will cease,
    the counsel of the elders will come to an end.(C)

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Concerning Edom, thus saith the Lord of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?

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A Message About Edom(A)(B)

Concerning Edom:(C)

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?(D)
    Has counsel perished from the prudent?
    Has their wisdom decayed?

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20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

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20 Consult God’s instruction(A) and the testimony of warning.(B) If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light(C) of dawn.

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