Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
New International Version NIV
1 Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
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There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
2 Iron is taken from the ground, and copper is smelted from ore.
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Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
3 A miner puts an end to the darkness; he probes the deepest recesses for ore in the gloomy 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 He cuts a shaft far from human habitation, [in places] unknown to those who walk above ground. Suspended far away from people, the miners swing back and forth.
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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 Food may come from the earth, but below the surface the earth is transformed as by fire.
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The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
6 Its rocks are a source of sapphire, containing flecks of gold.
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lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
7 No bird of prey knows that path; no falcon's eye has seen it.
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No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.
8 Proud beasts have never walked on it; no lion has ever prowled over it.
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Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
9 The miner strikes the flint and transforms the mountains at [their] foundations.
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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 eyes spot every treasure.
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They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.
11 He dams up the streams from flowing so that he may bring to light what is hidden.
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They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.
12 But where can wisdom be found, and where is understanding located?
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But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
13 No man can know its value, since it cannot be 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 ocean depths say, "It's not in me," while the sea declares, "I don't have it."
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The deep says, “It is not in me”; the sea says, “It is not with me.”
15 Gold cannot be exchanged for it, and silver cannot be weighed out for its price.
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It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
16 Wisdom 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 do not compare with it, and articles of fine gold cannot be exchanged for it.
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Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18 Coral and quartz are not worth mentioning. The price of wisdom is beyond pearls.
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Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19 Topaz from Cush cannot compare with it, and it cannot 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 Where then does wisdom come from, and where is understanding located?
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Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the 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 Abaddon and Death say, "We have heard news of it with our ears."
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Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23 But God understands the way to wisdom, and He knows its location.
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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 God fixed the weight of the wind and limited the water by measure,
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When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
26 when He established a limit for the rain and a path for the lightning,
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when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
27 He considered wisdom and evaluated it; He established it and examined it.
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then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
28 He said to mankind, "Look! The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to turn 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.”
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. 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.