English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1“Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine.

1"Surely there are mines for silver and places where gold is refined.

2Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.

2Iron is taken from the ground; and copper is smelted from ore.

3Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness.

3Mankind limits the darkness as they search the deepest depths for ore in unfathomable darkness.

4He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro.

4He sinks his shaft far from human habitations, in a place forgotten by explorers; they hang on harnesses as they swing back and forth.

5As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire.

5"While the ground produces food, underneath it is torn up and burning hot,

6Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.

6where stones are sapphire and gold dust can be found,

7“That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it.

7a place where birds of prey never fly, and the eyes of the falcon have never seen.

8The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.

8The proud beasts haven't walked there; lions have never passed over it.

9“Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots.

9"Using a flint, he thrusts his hand, overturning mountains by the roots.

10He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.

10He cuts a channel through the rocks, while his eyes search for anything of value.

11He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light.

11He dams up flowing rivers, bringing hidden things to light."

12“But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?

12"Where can wisdom be found? Where is understanding's home?

13Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living.

13Mankind doesn't appreciate their value; and you won't find it anywhere on earth.

14The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

14The deepest ocean says, 'It's not within me.' and the sea says, 'You'll never find it with me.'

15It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.

15You can't buy it with gold, and its value cannot be calculated in silver.

16It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.

16It cannot be compared to gold from Ophir, with precious onyx, or with sapphire.

17Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

17It cannot be compared to gold and fine glass crystal, nor can it be exchanged for gold-plated weaponry.

18No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.

18Don't even bother to mention coral and crystal— wisdom is more valuable than a bag of rubies.

19The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.

19It can neither be compared with the topaz of Ethiopia nor valued in comparison to pure gold."

20“From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?

20"From where, then, does wisdom originate? Where does understanding live?

21It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air.

21It has been concealed from the sight of every living creature and hidden even from the birds in the skies.

22Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’

22Abaddon and death said, 'We did hear a rumor about it.'

23“God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.

23God understands how to get there; he knows where they live.

24For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

24For he looks as far as the ends of the earth and sees everything under the sky.

25When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,

25"He imparted weight to the wind; he regulated water by his measurement.

26when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder,

26He set in place ordinances for the rain; and determined the pathway for thunder that accompanies lightning.

27then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.

27Then he looked at wisdom, and fixed it in place; he established it, and also examined it.

28And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

28He has commanded mankind: 'To fear the Lord—that is wisdom; to move away from evil—that is understanding.'"

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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