New International Version | International Standard Version |
1There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. | 1"Surely there are mines for silver and places where gold is refined. |
2Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. | 2Iron is taken from the ground; and copper is smelted from ore. |
3Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness. | 3Mankind limits the darkness as they search the deepest depths for ore in unfathomable darkness. |
4Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway. | 4He sinks his shaft far from human habitations, in a place forgotten by explorers; they hang on harnesses as they swing back and forth. |
5The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire; | 5"While the ground produces food, underneath it is torn up and burning hot, |
6lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold. | 6where stones are sapphire and gold dust can be found, |
7No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it. | 7a place where birds of prey never fly, and the eyes of the falcon have never seen. |
8Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there. | 8The proud beasts haven't walked there; lions have never passed over it. |
9People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains. | 9"Using a flint, he thrusts his hand, overturning mountains by the roots. |
10They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures. | 10He cuts a channel through the rocks, while his eyes search for anything of value. |
11They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light. | 11He dams up flowing rivers, bringing hidden things to light." |
12But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? | 12"Where can wisdom be found? Where is understanding's home? |
13No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be 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"; 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 with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver. | 15You can't buy it with gold, and its value cannot be calculated in silver. |
16It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli. | 16It cannot be compared to gold from Ophir, with precious onyx, or with sapphire. |
17Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. | 17It cannot be compared to gold and fine glass crystal, nor can it be exchanged for gold-plated weaponry. |
18Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. | 18Don't even bother to mention coral and crystal— wisdom is more valuable than a bag of rubies. |
19The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. | 19It can neither be compared with the topaz of Ethiopia nor valued in comparison to pure gold." |
20Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? | 20"From where, then, does wisdom originate? Where does understanding live? |
21It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky. | 21It has been concealed from the sight of every living creature and hidden even from the birds in the skies. |
22Destruction and Death say, "Only a rumor of it has reached our ears." | 22Abaddon and death said, 'We did hear a rumor about it.' |
23God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, | 23God understands how to get there; he knows where they live. |
24for he views 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 established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, | 25"He imparted weight to the wind; he regulated water by his measurement. |
26when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, | 26He set in place ordinances for the rain; and determined the pathway for thunder that accompanies lightning. |
27then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. | 27Then he looked at wisdom, and fixed it in place; he established it, and also examined it. |
28And he said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding." | 28He has commanded mankind: 'To fear the Lord—that is wisdom; to move away from evil—that is 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. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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