English Standard Version ESV
The Message Bible MSG
1 "Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine.
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"We all know how silver seams the rocks, we've seen the stuff from which gold is refined,
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.
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We're aware of how iron is dug out of the ground and copper is smelted from rock.
3 Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
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Miners penetrate the earth's darkness, searching the roots of the mountains for ore, digging away in the suffocating darkness.
4 He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro.
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Far from civilization, far from the traffic, they cut a shaft, and are lowered into it by ropes.
5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
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Earth's surface is a field for grain, but its depths are a forge
6 Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
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Firing sapphires from stones and chiseling gold from rocks.
7 "That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it.
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Vultures are blind to its riches, hawks never lay eyes on it.
8 The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.
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Wild animals are oblivious to it, lions don't know it's there.
9 "Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots.
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Miners hammer away at the rock, they uproot 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 and find all kinds of beautiful gems.
11 He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light.
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They discover the origins of rivers, and bring earth's secrets to light.
12 "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
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"But where, oh where, will they find Wisdom? Where does Insight hide?
13 Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.
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Mortals don't have a clue, haven't the slightest idea where to look.
14 The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
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Earth's depths say, 'It's not here'; ocean deeps echo, 'Never heard of it.'
15 It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.
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It can't be bought with the finest gold; no amount of silver can get it.
16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
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Even famous Ophir gold can't buy it, not even diamonds and sapphires.
17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
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Neither gold nor emeralds are comparable; extravagant jewelry can't touch it.
18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
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Pearl necklaces and ruby bracelets - why bother? None of this is even a down payment on Wisdom!
19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
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Pile gold and African diamonds as high as you will, they can't hold a candle to Wisdom.
20 "From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
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"So where does Wisdom come from? And where does Insight live?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air.
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It can't be found by looking, no matter how deep you dig, no matter how high you fly.
22 Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'
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If you search through the graveyard and question the dead, they say, 'We've only heard rumors of it.'
23 "God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.
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"God alone knows the way to Wisdom, he knows the exact place to find it.
24 For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
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He knows where everything is on earth, he sees everything under heaven.
25 When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,
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After he commanded the winds to blow 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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Arranged for the rain and set off explosions of thunder and lightning,
27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.
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He focused on Wisdom, made sure it was all set and tested and ready.
28 And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"
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Then he addressed the human race: 'Here it is! Fear-of-the-Lord - that's Wisdom, and Insight means shunning evil.'"
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.