Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
1 "Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.
1
There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.
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Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
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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Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
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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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 comes bread; but 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 Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
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lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
7 "That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has 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; the lion has not passed over it.
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Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
9 "Man puts his hand to the flinty rock, and overturns mountains by the roots.
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People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.
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They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.
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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They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.
12 "But where shall wisdom 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 does not know the way to it, 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 says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, '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 It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as 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 cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or 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 equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
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Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
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Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
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The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
20 "Whence then comes wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?
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Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
21 It is hid from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.
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It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.
22 Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'
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Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23 "God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.
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God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens.
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for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25 When he gave to the wind its weight, and meted out the waters by measure;
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When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
26 when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder;
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when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.
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then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
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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And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
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.
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.