1 Corinthians 1:28

26 Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.

27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,

29 so that no one may boast in His presence.

30 It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
KJV
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
WEB
God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist,
ASV
and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, [yea] and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:
DARBY
and the ignoble things of the world, and the despised, has God chosen, [and] things that are not, that he may annul the things that are;
BLB
and the lowborn of the world, and the [things] being despised, God also chose—the [things] not being—that He might nullify the [things] being,
ÅB
og det som er lavt i verden, og det som er ringeaktet, det utvalgte Gud seg, det som ingenting er, for å gjøre til intet det som er noe,
OTB
Og verdens ubetydelige ting og de foraktede har Gud valgt, de ting som ikke er, for at Han kan gjøre de ting som er til intet,
B1930
og det som er lavt i verden, og det som er ringeaktet, det utvalgte Gud sig, det som ingenting er, for å gjøre til intet det som er noget,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Job 34:24

    He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.

    Read in context
  • Romans 4:17

    As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 2:11

    The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 41:12

    You will seek them but will not find them. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing.

    Read in context
  • Job 34:19–20

    who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 17:13–14

    The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 37:35–36

    I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 2:17

    So the pride of man will be brought low, and the loftiness of men will be humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

    Read in context