The Darby Translation DBY
New International Version NIV
1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;
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There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.
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Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
3 [Man] putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.
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Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
4 He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.
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Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway.
5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;
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The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.
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lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
7 It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it;
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No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.
8 The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it.
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Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
9 [Man] putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.
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People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
10 He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.
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They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.
11 He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
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They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.
12 But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding?
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But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
13 Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.
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No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
14 The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me.
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The deep says, “It is not in me”; the sea says, “It is not with me.”
15 Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.
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It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
16 It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire.
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It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17 Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.
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Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18 Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.
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Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.
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The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
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Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
21 For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens.
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It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.
22 Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears.
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Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:
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God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven.
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for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25 In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,
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When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
26 In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:
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when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out;
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then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
28 And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
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And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.