18 For the word of the cross is ^cfolly ^dto those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the ^epower of God. 19 For it is written,

20 ^hWhere is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? ⁱHas not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach¹ to save those who believe. 22 For ^jJews demand signs and ^kGreeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach ^lChrist crucified, a ^mstumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the ⁿwisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise ^oaccording to worldly standards,² not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose ^pwhat is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 ^qso that no human being³ might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him⁴ you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, ^rrighteousness and ^ssanctification and ^tredemption, 31 so that, as it is written, ^u“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”