For see your vocation, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble:27 But the foolish things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the wise; and the weak things of the world hath God chosen, that he may confound the strong.28 And the base things of the world, and the things that are contemptible, hath God chosen, and things that are not, that he might bring to nought things that are:†29 That no flesh should glory in his sight.30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and justice, and sanctification, and redemption:31 That, as it is written: He that glorieth, may glory in the Lord.
Let us therefore, brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and pride, and foolishness, and angry feelings; and let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit says, "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glories glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness" ), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spoke teaching us meekness and long-suffering.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.13 The Lord hath looked from heaven: he hath beheld all the sons of men.18 Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him: and on them that hope in his mercy.19 To deliver their souls from death; and feed them in famine.20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector.21 For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted.
Those who fear him, those who hope for his mercy, he saves from spiritual death and nourishes in a spiritual way, that they may also say, "Let your mercy be on us, Lord, as we have hoped in you."
For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.18 For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.19 Now Herodias laid snares for him: and was desirous to put him to death, and could not.20 For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and holy man: and kept him, and when he heard him, did many things: and he heard him willingly.†21 And when a convenient day was come, Herod made a supper for his birthday, for the princes, and tribunes, and chief men of Galilee.22 And when the daughter of the same Herodias had come in, and had danced, and pleased Herod, and them that were at table with him, the king said to the damsel: Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee.23 And he swore to her: Whatsoever thou shalt ask I will give thee, though it be the half of my kingdom.24 Who when she was gone out, said to her mother, What shall I ask? But she said: The head of John the Baptist.25 And when she was come in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying: I will that forthwith thou give me in a dish, the head of John the Baptist.26 And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath, and because of them that were with him at table, he would not displease her:27 But sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish.28 And he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish: and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.29 Which his disciples hearing came, and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
(Mor. 3, 7) I cannot, without the greatest wonder, reflect that he, who was filled even in his mother’s womb with the spirit of prophecy, and who was the greatest that had arisen amongst those born of women, is sent into prison by wicked men, is beheaded for the dancing of a girl, and though a man of so great austerity, meets death through such a foul instrument. Are we to suppose that there was something evil in his life, to be wiped away by so ignominious a death? When, however, could he commit a sin even in his eating, whose food was only locusts and wild honey? How could he offend in his conversation, who never quitted the wilderness? How is it that Almighty God so despises in this life those whom He has so sublimely chosen before all ages, if it be not for the reason, which is plain to the piety of the faithful, that He thus sinks them into the lowest place, because He sees how He is rewarding them in the highest, and outwardly He throws them down amongst things despised, because inwardly He draws them up even to incomprehensible things. Let each then infer from this what they shall suffer, whom He rejects, if He so grieves those whom he loves.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)