^18 (A)Let no one deceive himself. ^(B)If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

^12 (A)But these, like irrational animals, ^(B)creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, ¹³ suffering wrong as ^(C)the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure ^(D)to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions,^[a] while ^(E)they feast with you. ¹⁴ They have eyes full of adultery,^{[b] (F)}insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts ^(G)trained in greed. ^(H)Accursed children! ¹⁵ Forsaking the right way, ^(I)they have gone astray. They have followed ^(J)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved ^(K)gain from wrongdoing, ¹⁶ but was rebuked for his own transgression; ^(L)a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

^5 (A)If any of you lacks wisdom, ^(B)let him ask God, ^(C)who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

^2 (A)If anyone imagines that he knows something, ^(B)he does not yet know as he ought to know.

The Mystery of Israel's Salvation

^25 (A)Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers:^{[a] (B)}a partial hardening has come upon Israel, ^(C)until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

⁵ And I said: “Woe is me! ^(A)For I am lost; ^(B)for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the ^(C)King, the Lord of hosts!”