Okay here are the translations I used for 1 Corinthians 1.28:

A) God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are (ESV)

B) He chose what the world looks down on and despises, and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important.(GNB)

C) God has chosen the world’s insignificant and despised things—the things viewed as nothing—so He might bring to nothing the things that are viewed as something, (HCSB)

D) And God chose what is insignificant in the world, what is despised, what is nothing, in order to destroy what is something (ISV)

E) God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something (NET)

F) and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are (NASB)

G) God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ([T]NIV)

The vote results were:

8 B’s

1 C/E

Interestingly enough, nobody went with this “traditional” rendering here, which is represented by the ESV, NASB, & [T]NIV. And the not/are language comes directly from the KJV. It seems to me that while many people don’t like the Good News translation for its simplicity, when other translations fail to be good English, it comes through quite clear.

Here’s my suggested rendering:

God chose the insignificant and despised of the world, what the world gives no value, to make worthless what the world views as valuable.

And I welcome everyone else to give a suggestion as well. Please do! Kurk can even copy and paste his here, if he’d like.