Common English Bible CEB
New International Version NIV
1 There is a sure source of silver, a place where gold is refined.
1
There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken from the earth; rock is smelted into copper.
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Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
3 Humans put an end to darkness, dig for ore to the farthest depths, into stone in utter 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 open a shaft away from any inhabitant, places forgotten by those on foot, apart from any human they hang and sway.
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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 Earth—from it comes food— is turned over below ground as by fire.
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The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
6 Its rocks are the source for lapis lazuli; there is gold dust in it.
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lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
7 A path— no bird of prey knows it; a hawk's eye hasn't seen it;
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No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.
8 proud beasts haven't trodden on it; a lion hasn't crossed over it.
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Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
9 Humans thrust their hands into flint, pull up mountains from their roots,
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People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
10 cut channels into rocks; their eyes see everything precious.
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They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.
11 They dam up the sources of rivers; hidden things come to light.
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They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.
12 But wisdom, where can it be found; where is the place of understanding?
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But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
13 Humankind doesn't know its value; it isn't 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's not with me"; the Sea says, "Not alongside me!"
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The deep says, “It is not in me”; the sea says, “It is not with me.”
15 It can't be bought with gold; its price can't be measured in silver,
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It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
16 can't be weighed against gold from Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
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It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17 Neither gold nor glass can compare with it; she can't be acquired with gold jewelry.
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Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18 Coral and jasper shouldn't be mentioned; the price of wisdom is more than rubies.
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Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19 Cushite topaz won't compare with her; she can't be set alongside pure gold.
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The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
20 But wisdom, where does she come from? Where is the place of understanding?
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Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
21 She's hidden from the eyes of all the living, concealed from birds of the sky.
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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, "We've heard a report of her."
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Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23 God understands her way; he knows her 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 surveys everything beneath the heavens.
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for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25 In order to weigh the wind, to prepare a measure for waters,
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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, a path for thunderbolts,
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when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
27 then he observed it, spoke of it, established it, searched it out,
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then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
28 and said to humankind: "Look, the fear of the LORD is wisdom; turning 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.”
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
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.