Thiswisdomis not that which comes downfrom above,but is earthly,natural,demonic.
But the wisdomfrom aboveis firstpure,thenpeaceable,gentle,reasonable,fullof mercyand goodfruits,unwavering,without hypocrisy.
Everygoodthing givenand everyperfectgiftis from above,coming downfrom the Fatherof lights,with whomthereis novariationorshiftingshadow.
For the wisdomof thisworldis foolishnessbeforeGod.For it is written,"[He is] THE ONE WHO CATCHESTHE WISEIN THEIR CRAFTINESS";
whoseendis destruction,whosegodis [their] appetite,and [whose] gloryis in their shame,who set their mindson earthly things.
But a naturalmandoes not acceptthe things of the Spiritof God,for they are foolishnessto him; and he cannotunderstandthem, becausethey are spirituallyappraised.
For our proud confidenceis this:the testimonyof our conscience,that in holinessand godlysincerity,not in fleshlywisdombut in the graceof God,we have conductedourselves in the world,and especiallytowardyou.
But ifanyof you lackswisdom,let him askof God,who givesto allgenerouslyand withoutreproach,and it will be givento him.
But the Spiritexplicitlysaysthat in latertimessomewill fall awayfrom the faith,paying attentionto deceitfulspiritsand doctrinesof demons,
Theseare the ones who cause divisions,worldly-minded,devoidof the Spirit.
for you are stillfleshly.For sincethere is jealousyand strifeamongyou, are you not fleshly,and are you not walkinglikemere men?
"For Goddid not sendthe Soninto the worldto judgethe world,but that the worldmight be savedthroughHim.
"For My peopleare foolish,They knowMe not; They are stupidchildrenAnd havenounderstanding.They are shrewdto doevil,But to dogoodthey do not know."
And the greatdragonwas throwndown, the serpentof oldwho is calledthe deviland Satan,who deceivesthe wholeworld;he was throwndown to the earth,and his angelswere throwndown with him.
They haveas kingoverthem, the angelof the abyss;his namein Hebrewis Abaddon,and in the Greekhe hasthe nameApollyon.
But I sayto you, the restwho are in Thyatira,whodo not holdthisteaching,whohave not knownthe deep thingsof Satan,as they callthem-- I placenootherburdenon you.
[that is], the one whosecomingis in accordwith the activityof Satan,with allpowerand signsand false wonders,
But I am afraidthat, as the serpentdeceivedEveby his craftiness,your mindswill be led astrayfrom the simplicityand purity[of devotion] to Christ.
but Godhas chosenthe foolish thingsof the worldto shamethe wise,and Godhas chosenthe weak thingsof the worldto shamethe things which are strong,
Professingto be wise,they became fools,
and said,"You who are fullof alldeceitand fraud,you sonof the devil,you enemyof allrighteousness,will you not ceaseto make crookedthe straightwaysof the Lord?
"You are of [your] fatherthe devil,and you wantto dothe desiresof your father.He was a murdererfrom the beginning,and does not standin the truthbecausethere is notruthin him. Wheneverhe speaksa lie,he speaksfrom his own[nature], for he is a liarand the fatherof lies.
"And his masterpraisedthe unrighteousmanagerbecausehe had actedshrewdly;for the sonsof thisageare more shrewdin relationto their ownkindthanthe sonsof light.
The adviceof Ahithophel,whichhe gavein thosedays,[was] as ifone inquiredof the wordof God;sowas allthe adviceof Ahithophel[regarded] by bothDavidand Absalom.
Now someone toldDavid,saying,"Ahithophelis among the conspiratorswith Absalom."And Davidsaid,"O LORD,I pray,makethe counselof Ahithophelfoolishness."
But Amnonhad a friendwhose namewas Jonadab,the sonof Shimeah,David'sbrother;and Jonadabwas a veryshrewdman.
