Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New International Version NIV
1 Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place wherein it is melted.
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There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone melted with heat is turned into brass.
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Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
3 He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he considereth, the stone also that is in the dark and 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 The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey, those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be come at.
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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 The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been overturned with 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 the clods of it are gold.
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lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
7 The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of the vulture beheld it.
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No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.
8 The children of the merchants have not trodden it, neither hath the lioness passed by it.
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Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
9 He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned mountains from the roots.
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People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
10 In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every precious thing.
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They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.
11 The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hidden things he hath brought forth to light.
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They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.
12 But where is wisdom to 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 price thereof, neither is it found in the land of them that live in delights.
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No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
14 The depth 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 The finest gold shall not purchase it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
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It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
16 It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, or with the most precious stone sardonyx, or the sapphire.
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It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17 Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of gold be changed for it.
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Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18 High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of it: but wisdom is drawn out of secret places.
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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 equal to it, neither shall it be compared to the cleanest dyeing.
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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 It is hid from the eyes of all living, and the fowls of the air know it not.
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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 have said: With our ears we have heard the fame thereof.
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Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23 God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place thereof.
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God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
24 For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all things that are under heaven.
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for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25 Who made a weight for the winds, and weighed the waters by measure.
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When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
26 When he gave a law for the rain, and a way for the sounding storms.
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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, and prepared, and searched it.
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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.”
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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.