Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY

1 Corinthians 3:19

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
- 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written: “He catches the wise in their own cunning.”+

1 Corinthians 3:19

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
- 19 ἡ the γὰρ for σοφία wisdom τοῦ of the κόσμου world τούτου this μωρία foolishness παρὰ beside τῷ the θεῷ God ἐστίν· is; γέγραπται it has been written γάρ for Ὁ The (one) δρασσόμενος catching τοὺς the σοφοὺς wise (ones) ἐν in τῇ the πανουργίᾳ all-doing αὐτῶν· of them;

1 Corinthians 3:19

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
- 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God;+ for it is written: “He catches the wise in their own cunning.”+

1 Corinthians 3:19

The Bible in Living English
- 19 for this world’s wisdom is foolishness in the presence of God, for it is written “he who clutches the wise in the midst of their shiftiness”

1 Corinthians 3:19

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

1 Corinthians 3:19

The Emphasized Bible
- 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; For it is written—He that taketh the wise in their knavery,—

1 Corinthians 3:19

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

1 Corinthians Study Notes—Chapter 3

New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
- 3:19
  
  for it is written: Paul here quotes Eliphaz the Temanite. When speaking to Job, Eliphaz misapplied the statement “he [that is, God] catches the wise in their own cunning.” (Job 4:1; 5:13) Paul was not endorsing everything that Eliphaz said, much of which was either untrue or misapplied. (Job 42:7) However, Eliphaz’ statement at Job 5:13 reflects a general observation, similar to thoughts expressed elsewhere in the Scriptures. (Ps 10:2; compare Job 5:17 with Ps 94:12.) Paul under inspiration quotes these words to show that man’s wisdom can in no way compare to God’s wisdom.