“No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.
I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers,
We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.
I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.’ “Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.
I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.
But you, come on again, all of you, and I shall not find a wise man among you.
Since you have closed their hearts to understanding, therefore you will not let them triumph.
“Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?
But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born a man!
and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
“Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right?
“For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out. For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow. Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?
“Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray. How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove?
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.