Good News Translation GNT
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 There are mines where silver is dug; There are places where gold is refined.
1
"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.
2 We dig iron out of the ground And melt copper out of the stones.
2
Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.
3 Miners explore the deepest darkness. They search the depths of the earth And dig for rocks in the darkness.
3
Men put an end to darkness, and search out to the farthest bound the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
4 Far from where anyone lives Or human feet ever travel, They dig the shafts of mines. There they work in loneliness, Clinging to ropes in the pits.
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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.
5 Food grows out of the earth, But underneath the same earth All is torn up and crushed.
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As for the earth, out of it comes bread; but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
6 The stones of the earth contain sapphires, And its dust contains gold.
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Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
7 No hawk sees the roads to the mines, And no vulture ever flies over them.
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"That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it.
8 No lion or other fierce beast Ever travels those lonely roads.
8
The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.
9 Miners dig the hardest rocks, Dig mountains away at their base.
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"Man puts his hand to the flinty rock, and overturns mountains by the roots.
10 As they tunnel through the rocks, They discover precious stones.
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He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.
11 They dig to the sources of rivers And bring to light what is hidden.
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He binds up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hid he brings forth to light.
12 But where can wisdom be found? Where can we learn to understand?
12
"But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
13 Wisdom is not to be found among mortals; No one knows its true value.
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Man does not know the way to it, and it is not found in the land of the living.
14 The depths of the oceans and seas Say that wisdom is not found there.
14
The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
15 It cannot be bought with silver or gold.
15
It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.
16 The finest gold and jewels Cannot equal its value.
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It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
17 It is worth more than gold, Than a gold vase or finest glass.
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Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
18 The value of wisdom is more Than coral or crystal or rubies.
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No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
19 The finest topaz and the purest gold Cannot compare with the value of wisdom.
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The topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20 Where, then, is the source of wisdom? Where can we learn to understand?
20
"Whence then comes wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?
21 No living creature can see it, Not even a bird in flight.
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It is hid from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.
22 Even death and destruction Admit they have heard only rumors.
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Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'
23 God alone knows the way, Knows the place where wisdom is found,
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"God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.
24 Because he sees the ends of the earth, Sees everything under the sky.
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For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens.
25 When God gave the wind its power And determined the size of the sea;
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When he gave to the wind its weight, and meted out the waters by measure;
26 When God decided where the rain would fall, And the path that the thunderclouds travel;
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when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder;
27 It was then he saw wisdom and tested its worth - He gave it his approval.
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then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.
28 God said to us humans, "To be wise, you must have reverence for the Lord. To understand, you must turn from evil."
28
And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'"
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
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.