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