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1 Corinthians
Chapter 3
Verse 3

1 Corinthians 3:20

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

American Standard Version (1901)

and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise, that they are vain.

Bible in Basic English

And again, The Lord has knowledge of the reasonings of the wise, that they are nothing.

Douay-Rheims 1899

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

Free Bible Version

and “The Lord knows the arguments of the wise are pointless.”

Geneva Bible 1599

And againe, The Lord knoweth that the thoughtes of the wise be vaine.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Plain English Version

And we can read this in another place in God’s book, “Smart people think up great ideas, but God knows those ideas are useless.”

Translation for Translators

And we can learn from these words of Scripture, The Lord considers as useless the thoughts of humans who think that they are [IRO] wise.

Unlocked Literal Bible

And again, “The Lord knows that the reasoning of the wise is futile.”

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.”

Young's Literal Translation

and again, 'The Lord doth know the reasonings of the wise, that they are vain.'

Context

God’s Temple and God’s Wisdom

¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” ²⁰And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

Summary

In this verse, Paul quotes from Psalm 94:11 to remind the Corinthians that the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God. He challenges them to not boast in human wisdom or intellect, but to instead rely on the wisdom that comes from God. By doing so, they will avoid being deceived by the empty philosophies of the world and will grow in spiritual maturity. This verse serves as a call to humility and a reminder that true wisdom is found in God alone, not in the wisdom of the world.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise - They are always full of schemes and plans for earthly good; and God knows that all this is vain, empty, and unsatisfactory; and will stand them in no stead when he comes to take away their souls. This is a quotation from Psa 94:11. What is here said of the vanity of human knowledge is true of every kind of wisdom that leads not immediately to God himself.

1 Corinthians 3:20

God’s Temple and God’s Wisdom

¹⁹For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” ²⁰And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

American Standard Version (1901)

and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise, that they are vain.

Bible in Basic English

And again, The Lord has knowledge of the reasonings of the wise, that they are nothing.

Douay-Rheims 1899

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

Free Bible Version

and “The Lord knows the arguments of the wise are pointless.”

Geneva Bible 1599

And againe, The Lord knoweth that the thoughtes of the wise be vaine.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Plain English Version

And we can read this in another place in God’s book, “Smart people think up great ideas, but God knows those ideas are useless.”

Translation for Translators

And we can learn from these words of Scripture, The Lord considers as useless the thoughts of humans who think that they are [IRO] wise.

Unlocked Literal Bible

And again, “The Lord knows that the reasoning of the wise is futile.”

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.”

Young's Literal Translation

and again, 'The Lord doth know the reasonings of the wise, that they are vain.'

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise - They are always full of schemes and plans for earthly good; and God knows that all this is vain, empty, and unsatisfactory; and will stand them in no stead when he comes to take away their souls. This is a quotation from Psa 94:11. What is here said of the vanity of human knowledge is true of every kind of wisdom that leads not immediately to God himself.