King James Version KJV
New International Version NIV
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
19
The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
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Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
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It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.
22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
22
Destruction and Death say, “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
23
God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
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for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
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When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
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when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
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then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
28
And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
The King James Version is in the public domain.
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.