Paul, called [to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

For you see your calling, brothers, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many powerful, not many noble, [are called].

And the base things of the world, and the things having been despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, in order that He might nullify the things which are,

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

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.

And Jehu went forth to the servants of his master, and they said to him, [Is] all well? Why has this madman come to you? And he said to them, You know the man, and his babble.

The days of vengeance have come, the days of your recompense have come; and Israel shall be afflicted as the prophet that is mad, as a man deranged. By reason of the multitude of your iniquities your madness has abounded.

And also some of the Epicurean and of the Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. And some were saying, "What does this seed-picker wish to say?" But others [said], "He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities," because he was preaching the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

But when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some were scoffing, but others said, "We will hear you again concerning this."

Now as he spoke these things, Festus said with a loud voice, "You are mad, Paul! Your higher learning is driving you to madness!"

"Blessed are you whenever they revile you, and they persecute you, and they say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

And you will be hated by all [people] for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

Then they will hand you over to tribulation and they will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations, on account of My name.

Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude you, and shall revile you, and cast out your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

For I will show him all the things that he must suffer for My name's sake."

If you are reviled in the name of Christ, blessed are you, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On the one hand He is blasphemed, but on the other He is glorified.

You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned [as kings] without us; and I wish [that] indeed you did reign, in order that we also might reign with you!

Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.

How will you say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? In vain have the scribes used a false pen.

The wise men are ashamed, and alarmed, and taken; because they have rejected the word of the Lord; what wisdom is there in them?

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

"For his letters," they say, "are severe and boisterous, but his bodily presence [is] feeble, and his speech amounts to nothing."

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I do not burn [with indignation]?

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in calamities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

since you are seeking proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but strong in you.

For although He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we are weak in Him, yet we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.

I gave you milk to drink, and not solid food; for you were not yet able [to receive it]. Indeed, neither are you now yet able;

So then, let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he should fall!

A man void of understanding sneers at [his fellow] citizens, but a sensible man is quiet.

But His form was ignoble, and inferior to that of the children of men; [He was] a man in suffering, and acquainted with the bearing of sickness, for His face has turned from [us]; He was dishonored, and not esteemed.

He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised the others:

Therefore he who rejects [this] does not reject man, but God, who has given His Holy Spirit to you.