For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
Ver. 19. He taketh the wise] ο δρασσομενος, those natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed,2 Peter 2:12; God takes them and makes fools of them.
In their own craftiness] When they have eviscerated themselves like spiders, tried all conclusions, beaten their brains, searched the devil's skull for new devices, done all that may be done (as the word πανουργια imports) to effect their designs. Versutia veteratoria. God lets them carry the ball on the foot till they are almost at the goal, go to the utmost of their tether, and then pulls them back with shame enough to their task. Thus he dealt by Sennacherib, Haman, Herod, others.