1 Corinthians 3:19

Read it in 5 translations

KJV King James Version

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

BSB Berean Standard Bible

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

WEB World English Bible

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.”

ASV American Standard Version

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

YLT Young’s Literal Translation

for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it hath been written, ‘Who is taking the wise in their craftiness;’

Surrounding context — 1 Corinthians 3

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

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.

21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;

22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

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Cross-references

Job 5:13He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.Psalm 141:10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.1 Corinthians 1:19-20For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.Romans 1:21-22Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.Isaiah 44:25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;Psalm 9:15-16The heathen are sunk down in the pit [that] they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.1 Corinthians 2:6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:Psalm 7:14-15Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.Isaiah 29:14-16Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, [even] a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise [men] shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent [men] shall be hid.Isaiah 19:11-14Surely the princes of Zoan [are] fools, the counsel of the wise counsellers of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I [am] the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?2 Samuel 16:23And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, [was] as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so [was] all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.Exodus 18:11Now I know that the LORD [is] greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly [he was] above them.2 Samuel 15:31And [one] told David, saying, Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.2 Samuel 17:14And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite [is] better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.2 Samuel 17:23And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled [his] ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.Exodus 1:10Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and [so] get them up out of the land.Esther 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.

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