² The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, ^(A)lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

¹⁷ Beware ^(A)lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’

²⁷ But ^(A)God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; ^(B)God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; ²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world, even ^(C)things that are not, to ^(D)bring to nothing things that are, ²⁹ so ^(E)that no human being^[a] might boast in the presence of God.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

⁷ But we have this treasure in ^(A)jars of clay, ^(B)to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

¹⁸ do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

^13 (A)For he says:

^9 (A)not a result of works, ^(B)so that no one may boast.

⁴ For the ^(A)weapons of ^(B)our warfare are not of the flesh but have ^(C)divine power ^(D)to destroy strongholds. ⁵ We destroy arguments and ^(E)every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to ^(F)obey Christ,

⁴ and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of ^(A)the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men^[a] but ^(B)in the power of God.