New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
1
"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.
2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
2
Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.
3 Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest 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 human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway.
4
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 The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
5
As for the earth, out of it comes bread; but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
6 lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
6
Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.
7
"That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it.
8 Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
8
The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.
9 People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
9
"Man puts his hand to the flinty rock, and overturns mountains by the roots.
10 They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.
10
He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.
11 They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.
11
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 does understanding dwell?
12
"But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
13 No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
13
Man does not know the way to it, and it is not found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, “It is not in me”; the sea says, “It is not with me.”
14
The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
15
It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.
16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
16
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
17
Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
18
No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
19
The topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20 Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
20
"Whence then comes wisdom? And 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.
21
It is hid from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.
22 Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
22
Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'
23 God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
23
"God understands the way to it, and he knows its 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 sees everything under the heavens.
25 When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
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When he gave to the wind its weight, and meted out the waters by measure;
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, and a way for the lightning of the thunder;
27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
27
then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and 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.”
28
And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart 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.
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.