| New Century Version (NCV) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 "There are mines where people dig silver and places where gold is made pure.
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1 "There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
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2 Iron is taken from the ground, and copper is melted out of rocks.
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2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
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3 Miners bring lights and search deep into the mines for ore in thick darkness.
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3 Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
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4 Miners dig a tunnel far from where people live, where no one has ever walked; they work far from people, swinging and swaying from ropes.
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4 Far from where people dwell he cuts a shaft, in places forgotten by the foot of man; far from men he dangles and sways.
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5 Food grows on top of the earth, but below ground things are changed as if by fire.
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5 The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
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6 Sapphires are found in rocks, and gold dust is also found there.
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6 sapphires come from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
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7 No hawk knows that path; the falcon has not seen it.
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7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it.
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8 Proud animals have not walked there, and no lions cross over it.
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8 Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
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9 Miners hit the rocks of flint and dig away at the bottom of the mountains.
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9 Man's hand assaults the flinty rock and lays bare the roots of the mountains.
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10 They cut tunnels through the rock and see all the treasures there.
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10 He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures.
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11 They search for places where rivers begin and bring things hidden out into the light.
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11 He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light.
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12 "But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding live?
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12 "But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
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13 People do not understand the value of wisdom; it cannot be found among those who are alive.
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13 Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
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14 The deep ocean says, 'It's not in me;' the sea says, 'It's not in me.'
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14 The deep says, 'It is not in me'; the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
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15 Wisdom cannot be bought with gold, and its cost cannot be weighed in silver.
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15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver.
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16 Wisdom cannot be bought with fine gold or with valuable onyx or sapphire gems.
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16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires.
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17 Gold and crystal are not as valuable as wisdom, and you cannot buy it with jewels of gold.
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17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
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18 Coral and jasper are not worth talking about, and the price of wisdom is much greater than rubies.
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18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
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19 The topaz from Cush cannot compare to wisdom; it cannot be bought with the purest gold.
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19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
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20 "So where does wisdom come from, and where does understanding live?
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20 "Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
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21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, even from the birds of the air.
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21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air.
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22 The places of destruction and death say, 'We have heard reports about it.'
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22 Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'
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23 Only God understands the way to wisdom, and he alone knows where it lives,
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23 God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
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24 because he looks to the farthest parts of the earth and sees everything under the sky.
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24 for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
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25 When God gave power to the wind and measured the water,
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25 When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
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26 when he made rules for the rain and set a path for a thunderstorm to follow,
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26 when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
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27 then he looked at wisdom and decided its worth; he set wisdom up and tested it.
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27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
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28 Then he said to humans, 'The fear of the Lord is wisdom; to stay away from evil is understanding.'"
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28 And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.' "
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| Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (New Century Version Online Bible) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
