First Corinthians 1.18-19 says, according to the ESV (and many other translations):
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.
Paul is quoting Isaiah 29.14. Here is the vv. 13 and 14:
And YHWH said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful things with this people,
with wonder upon wonder;
and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”
Hays writes that this all relates to what Paul is saying to the Corinthians. Their words of wisdom are empty show. What is more, God has done the ultimate of “wonderful things” in the crucifixion of His Son. Therefore, he suggests, perhaps the middle voice should be taken as passive in First Corinthians 1.18 since the same word is used in the LXX text of Isaiah 2.14: not “those who are perishing,” but “those who are being destroyed.” This would be a divine passive. The wise are being destroyed by God.