Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
The Message Bible MSG
1 Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place wherein it is melted.
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"We all know how silver seams the rocks, we've seen the stuff from which gold is refined,
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone melted with heat is turned into brass.
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We're aware of how iron is dug out of the ground and copper is smelted from rock.
3 He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he considereth, the stone also that is in the dark and the shadow of death.
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Miners penetrate the earth's darkness, searching the roots of the mountains for ore, digging away in the suffocating darkness.
4 The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey, those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be come at.
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Far from civilization, far from the traffic, they cut a shaft, and are lowered into it by ropes.
5 The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been overturned with fire.
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Earth's surface is a field for grain, but its depths are a forge
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and the clods of it are gold.
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Firing sapphires from stones and chiseling gold from rocks.
7 The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of the vulture beheld it.
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Vultures are blind to its riches, hawks never lay eyes on it.
8 The children of the merchants have not trodden it, neither hath the lioness passed by it.
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Wild animals are oblivious to it, lions don't know it's there.
9 He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned mountains from the roots.
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Miners hammer away at the rock, they uproot the mountains.
10 In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every precious thing.
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They tunnel through the rock and find all kinds of beautiful gems.
11 The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hidden things he hath brought forth to light.
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They discover the origins of rivers, and bring earth's secrets to light.
12 But where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?
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"But where, oh where, will they find Wisdom? Where does Insight hide?
13 Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of them that live in delights.
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Mortals don't have a clue, haven't the slightest idea where to look.
14 The depth saith: It is not in me: and the sea saith: It is not with me.
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Earth's depths say, 'It's not here'; ocean deeps echo, 'Never heard of it.'
15 The finest gold shall not purchase it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
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It can't be bought with the finest gold; no amount of silver can get it.
16 It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, or with the most precious stone sardonyx, or the sapphire.
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Even famous Ophir gold can't buy it, not even diamonds and sapphires.
17 Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of gold be changed for it.
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Neither gold nor emeralds are comparable; extravagant jewelry can't touch it.
18 High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of it: but wisdom is drawn out of secret places.
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Pearl necklaces and ruby bracelets - why bother? None of this is even a down payment on Wisdom!
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it be compared to the cleanest dyeing.
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Pile gold and African diamonds as high as you will, they can't hold a candle to Wisdom.
20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
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"So where does Wisdom come from? And where does Insight live?
21 It is hid from the eyes of all living, and the fowls of the air know it not.
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It can't be found by looking, no matter how deep you dig, no matter how high you fly.
22 Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard the fame thereof.
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If you search through the graveyard and question the dead, they say, 'We've only heard rumors of it.'
23 God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place thereof.
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"God alone knows the way to Wisdom, he knows the exact place to find it.
24 For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all things that are under heaven.
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He knows where everything is on earth, he sees everything under heaven.
25 Who made a weight for the winds, and weighed the waters by measure.
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After he commanded the winds to blow and measured out the waters,
26 When he gave a law for the rain, and a way for the sounding storms.
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Arranged for the rain and set off explosions of thunder and lightning,
27 Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared, and searched it.
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He focused on Wisdom, made sure it was all set and tested and ready.
28 And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, is understanding.
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Then he addressed the human race: 'Here it is! Fear-of-the-Lord - that's Wisdom, and Insight means shunning evil.'"
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
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.