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New International Version (NIV) |
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1 "Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.
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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 out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.
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2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
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3 Men put an end to darkness, and search out to the farthest bound the ore in gloom and deep 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 They open shafts in a valley away from where men live; they are forgotten by travelers, they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.
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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 As for the earth, out of it comes bread; but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
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5 The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
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6 Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
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6 sapphires come from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
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7 "That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye 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 The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed 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 "Man puts his hand to the flinty rock, and overturns mountains by the roots.
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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 He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.
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10 He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures.
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11 He binds up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hid he brings forth to 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 shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
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12 "But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
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13 Man does not know the way to it, and it is not found in the land of the living.
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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 says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with 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 It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.
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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 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
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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 glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine 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 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
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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 of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure 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 "Whence then comes wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?
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20 "Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
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21 It is hid from the eyes of all living, and concealed 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 Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'
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22 Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'
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23 "God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.
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23 God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
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24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens.
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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 he gave to the wind its weight, and meted out the waters by measure;
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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 a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder;
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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 saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.
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27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
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28 And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart 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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| Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Revised Standard Version - Holy 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) |
