New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 "Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold to be refined.
1
Truly there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is washed out.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
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Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone is changed into brass by the fire.
3 Miners put an end to darkness, and search out to the farthest bound the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
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Man puts an end to the dark, searching out to the farthest limit the stones of the deep places of the dark.
4 They open shafts in a valley away from human habitation; they are forgotten by travelers, they sway suspended, remote from people.
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He makes a deep mine far away from those living in the light of day; when they go about on the earth, they have no knowledge of those who are under them, who are hanging far from men, twisting from side to side on a cord.
5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread; but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
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As for the earth, bread comes out of it; but under its face it is turned up as if by fire.
6 Its stones are the place of sapphires, and its dust contains gold.
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Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
7 "That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it.
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No bird has knowledge of it, and the hawk's eye has never seen it.
8 The proud wild animals have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.
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The great beasts have not gone over it, and the cruel lion has not taken that way.
9 "They put their hand to the flinty rock, and overturn mountains by the roots.
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Man puts out his hand on the hard rock, overturning mountains by the roots.
10 They cut out channels in the rocks, and their eyes see every precious thing.
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He makes deep ways, cut through the rock, and his eye sees everything of value.
11 The sources of the rivers they probe; hidden things they bring to light.
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He keeps back the streams from flowing, and makes the secret things come out into the light.
12 "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
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But where may wisdom be seen? and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
13 Mortals do not know the way to it, and it is not found in the land of the living.
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Man has not seen the way to it, and it is not in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, "It is not in me,' and the sea says, "It is not with me.'
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The deep waters say, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.
15 It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed out as its price.
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Gold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.
16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
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It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.
17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
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Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
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There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.
19 The chrysolite of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
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The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.
20 "Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding?
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From where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.
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For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.
22 Abaddon and Death say, "We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'
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Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.
23 "God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.
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God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place;
24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens.
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For his eyes go to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under heaven.
25 When he gave to the wind its weight, and apportioned out the waters by measure;
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When he made a weight for the wind, measuring out the waters;
26 when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the thunderbolt;
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When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;
27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.
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Then he saw it, and put it on record; he gave it its fixed form, searching it out completely.
28 And he said to humankind, "Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.' "
28
And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.