| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. | 1"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. |
| 2Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. | 2Iron is taken from the ground, and rock is poured out as copper. |
| 3Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness. | 3Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for the ore in the deepest darkness. |
| 4Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway. | 4Far from where people live he sinks a shaft, in places travelers have long forgotten, far from other people he dangles and sways. |
| 5The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire; | 5The earth, from which food comes, is overturned below as though by fire; |
| 6lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold. | 6a place whose stones are sapphires and which contains dust of gold; |
| 7No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it. | 7a hidden path no bird of prey knows--no falcon's eye has spotted it. |
| 8Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there. | 8Proud beasts have not set foot on it, and no lion has passed along it. |
| 9People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains. | 9On the flinty rock man has set to work with his hand; he has overturned mountains at their bases. |
| 10They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures. | 10He has cut out channels through the rocks; his eyes have spotted every precious thing. |
| 11They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light. | 11He has searched the sources of the rivers and what was hidden he has brought into the light. |
| 12But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? | 12"But wisdom--where can it be found? Where is the place of understanding? |
| 13No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. | 13Mankind does not know its place; it cannot be found in the land of the living. |
| 14The deep says, "It is not in me"; the sea says, "It is not with me." | 14The deep says, 'It is not with me.' And the sea says, 'It is not with me.' |
| 15It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver. | 15Fine gold cannot be given in exchange for it, nor can its price be weighed out in silver. |
| 16It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli. | 16It cannot be measured out for purchase with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. |
| 17Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. | 17Neither gold nor crystal can be compared with it, nor can a vase of gold match its worth. |
| 18Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. | 18Of coral and jasper no mention will be made; the price of wisdom is more than pearls. |
| 19The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. | 19The topaz of Cush cannot be compared with it; it cannot be purchased with pure gold. |
| 20Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? | 20"But wisdom--where does it come from? Where is the place of understanding? |
| 21It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky. | 21For it has been hidden from the eyes of every living creature, and from the birds of the sky it has been concealed. |
| 22Destruction and Death say, "Only a rumor of it has reached our ears." | 22Destruction and Death say, 'With our ears we have heard a rumor about where it can be found.' |
| 23God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, | 23God understands the way to it, and he alone knows its place. |
| 24for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. | 24For he looks to the ends of the earth and observes everything under the heavens. |
| 25When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, | 25When he made the force of the wind and measured the waters with a gauge. |
| 26when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, | 26When he imposed a limit for the rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, |
| 27then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. | 27then he looked at wisdom and assessed its value; he established it and examined it closely. |
| 28And he said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding." | 28And he said to mankind, 'The fear of the LORD--that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'" |
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