First Letter to the Corinthians

For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn't know God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.

For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,

but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,

but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;

but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;

and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are:

that no flesh should boast before God.

But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

that your faith wouldn't stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.

But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds to our glory,

which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written, "Things which an eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear, Which didn't enter into the heart of man, These God has prepared for those who love him."