1 Corinthians 3:20

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Ps 94:11 : 11 The LORD knows that peoples’ thoughts are morally bankrupt.
  • Col 2:8 : 8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
  • Rom 1:21 : 21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.
  • Job 11:11-12 : 11 For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it? 12 But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a human being.
  • Ps 2:1 : 1 Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail?

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 1 Cor 3:18-19
    2 verses
    86%

    18Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.

    19For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written,“He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

  • Ps 94:11
    81%

    11The LORD knows that peoples’ thoughts are morally bankrupt.

  • 1 Cor 1:19-21
    3 verses
    78%

    19For it is written,“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.”

    20Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?

    21For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.

  • 1 Cor 1:25
    75%

    25For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

  • Rom 1:21-22
    2 verses
    75%

    21For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.

    22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

  • 1 Cor 2:5-7
    3 verses
    74%

    5so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.

    6Wisdom from God Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.

    7Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory.

  • Job 5:13
    74%

    13He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is brought to a quick end.

  • 1 Cor 3:21
    73%

    21So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! For everything belongs to you,

  • Prov 19:3
    73%

    3A person’s folly subverts his way, and his heart rages against the LORD.

  • Jer 8:8-9
    2 verses
    73%

    8How can you say,“We are wise! We have the law of the LORD”? The truth is, those who teach it have used their writings to make it say what it does not really mean.

    9Your wise men will be put to shame. They will be dumbfounded and be brought to judgment. Since they have rejected the LORD’s message, what wisdom do they really have?

  • Prov 14:33
    72%

    33Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; it is not known in the inner parts of fools.

  • Prov 14:8
    72%

    8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

  • 1 Cor 8:2
    72%

    2If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.

  • Isa 5:21
    72%

    21Beware, those who think they are wise, those who think they possess understanding.

  • Eccl 2:14-16
    3 verses
    72%

    14The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.

    15So I thought to myself,“The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?” So I lamented to myself,“The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!”

    16For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies– just like the fool!

  • Job 11:11
    72%

    11For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it?

  • 1 Cor 1:27
    72%

    27But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.

  • Eccl 1:17-18
    2 verses
    71%

    17So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

    18For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.

  • Jer 9:23
    71%

    23The LORD says,“Wise people should not boast that they are wise. Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful. Rich people should not boast that they are rich.

  • 1 Cor 2:16
    71%

    16For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.

  • Eccl 10:3
    71%

    3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.

  • Eccl 2:19
    71%

    19Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!

  • Ps 49:10
    71%

    10Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.

  • Prov 14:24
    71%

    24The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is folly.

  • Eccl 12:8
    70%

    8Concluding Refrain: Qoheleth Restates His Thesis“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher,“All of these things are futile!”

  • Prov 3:35
    70%

    35The wise inherit honor, but he holds fools up to public contempt.

  • Gal 6:3
    70%

    3For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

  • Prov 18:2
    70%

    2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.

  • Eccl 8:17
    70%

    17then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.

  • Prov 26:12
    70%

    12You have seen a man wise in his own opinion– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

  • Jas 3:15
    70%

    15Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.

  • 1 Sam 2:3
    70%

    3Don’t keep speaking so arrogantly. Proud talk should not come out of your mouth! For the LORD is a God who knows; he evaluates what people do.

  • Ps 39:6
    70%

    6Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.”

  • 2 Cor 11:16
    70%

    16Paul’s Sufferings for Christ I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.

  • 1 Cor 2:14
    70%

    14The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

  • Prov 21:30
    70%

    30There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the LORD.

  • Col 2:3
    70%

    3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

  • Eccl 6:8
    70%

    8So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

  • Eccl 7:25
    70%

    25True Righteousness and Wisdom Are Virtually Nonexistent I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.

  • Eccl 3:18
    70%

    18I also thought to myself,“It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.