³⁵ Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.

¹⁷ Because you say, ^(A)‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

⁹ For he who lacks these things is ^(A)shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

^13 (A)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have ^(B)bitter envy and ^[a]self-seeking in your hearts, ^(C)do not boast and lie against the truth. ^15 (D)This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For ^(E)where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But ^(F)the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, ^(G)without partiality ^(H)and without hypocrisy.

¹⁹ For it is written:

^20 (B)Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the ^[a]disputer of this age? ^(C)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the ^(D)wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

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.”

^22 (A)Professing to be wise, they became fools,

Deceptions of False Teachers

¹⁸ For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who ^[a]have actually escaped from those who live in error.