New International Version | New Living Translation |
1There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. | 1“People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold. |
2Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. | 2They know where to dig iron from the earth and how to smelt copper from rock. |
3Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness. | 3They know how to shine light in the darkness and explore the farthest regions of the earth as they search in the dark for ore. |
4Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway. | 4They sink a mine shaft into the earth far from where anyone lives. They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth. |
5The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire; | 5Food is grown on the earth above, but down below, the earth is melted as by fire. |
6lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold. | 6Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli, and the dust contains gold. |
7No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it. | 7These are treasures no bird of prey can see, no falcon’s eye observe. |
8Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there. | 8No wild animal has walked upon these treasures; no lion has ever set his paw there. |
9People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains. | 9People know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains. |
10They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures. | 10They cut tunnels in the rocks and uncover precious stones. |
11They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light. | 11They dam up the trickling streams and bring to light the hidden treasures. |
12But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? | 12“But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? |
13No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. | 13No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living. |
14The deep says, "It is not in me"; the sea says, "It is not with me." | 14‘It is not here,’ says the ocean. ‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea. |
15It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver. | 15It cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be purchased with silver. |
16It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli. | 16It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir, greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli. |
17Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. | 17Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold. |
18Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. | 18Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it. The price of wisdom is far above rubies. |
19The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. | 19Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it. It’s worth more than the purest gold. |
20Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? | 20“But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? |
21It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky. | 21It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it. |
22Destruction and Death say, "Only a rumor of it has reached our ears." | 22Destruction and Death say, ‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’ |
23God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, | 23“God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found, |
24for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. | 24for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens. |
25When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, | 25He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall. |
26when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, | 26He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning. |
27then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. | 27Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly. |
28And he said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding." | 28And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’” |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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