1 Corinthians 3:19 — Compare Translations

28 translations compared side by side

For this world's wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He lays hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness; [Job 5:13.]

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

For this world's wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He lays hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness; [Job 5:13.]

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

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

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness;

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, He who takes the wise in their craftiness.

English EASY 2024

People in this world think that some people are wise. But God thinks that those wise people are fools. It says in the Bible: ‘God causes the clever thoughts of wise people to confuse them.’

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

I say this because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "He catches those who think they are wise in their own clever traps."

For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"

English GNT (Good News Translation)

For what this world considers to be wisdom is nonsense in God's sight. As the scripture says, “God traps the wise in their cleverness”;

English God's Word - GW 1995

The wisdom of this world is nonsense in God's sight. That's why Scripture says, "God catches the wise in their cleverness."

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness--

English KJV 1611

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

English LSB

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”;

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

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

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS";

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: "He catches the wise in their own ruses,"

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, “ He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

The wisdom of this world is foolish in God's eyes. It is written, "God catches wise people in their own tricks."--(Job 5:13)

English NIV

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness";

English NKJ 1982

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

English NLT

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, "God catches those who think they are wise in their own cleverness."

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

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

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

For what the world says is wisdom is actually foolishness in God’s eyes. As it is written: The cleverness of the know-it-alls becomes the trap that ensnares them.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

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

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As it says in the book of Job, God uses man's own brilliance to trap him; he stumbles over his own “wisdom“ and falls.

English Tyndale 1537

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: he compasseth the wise in their craftiness.