The Message Bible MSG
English Standard Version ESV
1 "We all know how silver seams the rocks, we've seen the stuff from which gold is refined,
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“Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine.
2 We're aware of how iron is dug out of the ground and copper is smelted from rock.
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Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.
3 Miners penetrate the earth's darkness, searching the roots of the mountains for ore, digging away in the suffocating darkness.
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Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
4 Far from civilization, far from the traffic, they cut a shaft, and are lowered into it by ropes.
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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.
5 Earth's surface is a field for grain, but its depths are a forge
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As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
6 Firing sapphires from stones and chiseling gold from rocks.
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Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
7 Vultures are blind to its riches, hawks never lay eyes on it.
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“That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it.
8 Wild animals are oblivious to it, lions don't know it's there.
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The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.
9 Miners hammer away at the rock, they uproot the mountains.
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“Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots.
10 They tunnel through the rock and find all kinds of beautiful gems.
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He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.
11 They discover the origins of rivers, and bring earth's secrets to light.
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He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light.
12 "But where, oh where, will they find Wisdom? Where does Insight hide?
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“But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
13 Mortals don't have a clue, haven't the slightest idea where to look.
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Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.
14 Earth's depths say, 'It's not here'; ocean deeps echo, 'Never heard of it.'
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The deep says, ‘It is not in me, ’and the sea says, ‘It is not with me. ’
15 It can't be bought with the finest gold; no amount of silver can get it.
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It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.
16 Even famous Ophir gold can't buy it, not even diamonds and sapphires.
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It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
17 Neither gold nor emeralds are comparable; extravagant jewelry can't touch it.
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Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
18 Pearl necklaces and ruby bracelets - why bother? None of this is even a down payment on Wisdom!
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No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
19 Pile gold and African diamonds as high as you will, they can't hold a candle to Wisdom.
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The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20 "So where does Wisdom come from? And where does Insight live?
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“From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
21 It can't be found by looking, no matter how deep you dig, no matter how high you fly.
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It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air.
22 If you search through the graveyard and question the dead, they say, 'We've only heard rumors of it.'
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Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears. ’
23 "God alone knows the way to Wisdom, he knows the exact place to find it.
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“God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.
24 He knows where everything is on earth, he sees everything under heaven.
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For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25 After he commanded the winds to blow and measured out the waters,
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When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,
26 Arranged for the rain and set off explosions of thunder and lightning,
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when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder,
27 He focused on Wisdom, made sure it was all set and tested and ready.
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then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.
28 Then he addressed the human race: 'Here it is! Fear-of-the-Lord - that's Wisdom, and Insight means shunning evil.'"
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And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding. ’”
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.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025