² And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel ^(A)claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

¹⁷ then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’

²⁷ But ^(A)God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the ^[a]base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Cast Down but Unconquered

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, ^(A)that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

^18 (A)do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.