25 who destroys the omens of the false prophets
and makes fools of diviners;
who confounds the wise
and makes their knowledge foolishness;(A)

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25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

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The wise will be put to shame;
they will be dismayed and snared.
They have rejected the word of the Lord,
so what wisdom do they really have?

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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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He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear God’s message.(A)

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Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

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19 For it is written:

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.(A)[a]

20 Where is the philosopher?[b] Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age?(B) Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? 21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs(C) and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified,(D) a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.[c] 24 Yet to those who are called,(E) both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, 25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Boasting Only in the Lord

26 Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective,[d] not many powerful,(F) not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen(G) what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:19 Is 29:14
  2. 1 Corinthians 1:20 Or wise
  3. 1 Corinthians 1:23 Other mss read Greeks
  4. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Lit wise according to the flesh

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;

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19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness(A) with God, since it is written:(B) He catches the wise in their craftiness;(C)[a] 20 and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings(D) of the wise are meaningless.(E)[b]

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19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

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