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1 Corinthians 3:16–20

16 aDo you not know that byou are a 1temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

17 If any man destroys the 1temple of God, God will destroy him, for the 1temple of God is holy, and 2that is what you are.

18 aLet no man deceive himself. bIf any man among you thinks that he is wise in cthis age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.

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

20 and again, “aThe Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.”

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1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — The New International Version (NIV)

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — English Standard Version (ESV)

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — New Living Translation (NLT)

16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

18 Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say,

“He traps the wise

in the snare of their own cleverness.”

20 And again,

“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise;

he knows they are worthless.”

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

18 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. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — New Century Version (NCV)

16 Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person, because God’s temple is holy and you are that temple.

18 Do not fool yourselves. If you think you are wise in this world, you should become a fool so that you can become truly wise, 19 because the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. It is written in the Scriptures, “He catches those who are wise in their own clever traps.” 20 It is also written in the Scriptures, “The Lord knows what wise people think. He knows their thoughts are just a puff of wind.”

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — American Standard Version (ASV)

16 Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness: 20 and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise, that they are vain.

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

16 Do ye not know that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any one corrupt the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.

18 Let no one deceive himself: if any one thinks himself to be wise among you in this world, let him become foolish, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, He who takes the wise in their craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise that they are vain.

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

16 Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him because God’s temple is holy. You are that holy temple! 

18 Don’t deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise in the ways of this world, you should give up that wisdom in order to become really wise. 19 The wisdom of this world is nonsense in God’s sight. That’s why Scripture says, “God catches the wise in their cleverness.” 20 Again Scripture says, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are pointless.” 

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

16 Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.

18 No one should deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish so that he can become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness; 20 and again, The Lord knows that the reasonings of the wise are meaningless.

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written,

“He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

20 and again,

“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise,

that they are futile.”

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy this one. For God’s temple is holy, which you are.

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks himself to be wise among you in this age, let him become a fool, in order that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written, “The one who catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

1 Corinthians 3:16–20 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple? God’s Spirit lives in you. 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. God’s temple is holy. And you are that temple.

18 Don’t fool yourselves. Suppose some of you think you are wise by the standards of the world. Then you should become a “fool” so that you can become wise.

19 The wisdom of this world is foolish in God’s eyes. It is written, “God catches wise people in their own tricks.” 20 It is also written, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise don’t amount to anything.”


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