International Standard Version | New Living Translation |
1"Surely there are mines for silver and places where gold is refined. | 1“People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold. |
2Iron is taken from the ground; and copper is smelted from ore. | 2They know where to dig iron from the earth and how to smelt copper from rock. |
3Mankind limits the darkness as they search the deepest depths for ore in unfathomable 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. |
4He sinks his shaft far from human habitations, in a place forgotten by explorers; they hang on harnesses as they swing back and forth. | 4They sink a mine shaft into the earth far from where anyone lives. They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth. |
5"While the ground produces food, underneath it is torn up and burning hot, | 5Food is grown on the earth above, but down below, the earth is melted as by fire. |
6where stones are sapphire and gold dust can be found, | 6Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli, and the dust contains gold. |
7a place where birds of prey never fly, and the eyes of the falcon have never seen. | 7These are treasures no bird of prey can see, no falcon’s eye observe. |
8The proud beasts haven't walked there; lions have never passed over it. | 8No wild animal has walked upon these treasures; no lion has ever set his paw there. |
9"Using a flint, he thrusts his hand, overturning mountains by the roots. | 9People know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains. |
10He cuts a channel through the rocks, while his eyes search for anything of value. | 10They cut tunnels in the rocks and uncover precious stones. |
11He dams up flowing rivers, bringing hidden things to light." | 11They dam up the trickling streams and bring to light the hidden treasures. |
12"Where can wisdom be found? Where is understanding's home? | 12“But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? |
13Mankind doesn't appreciate their value; and you won't find it anywhere on earth. | 13No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living. |
14The deepest ocean says, 'It's not within me.' and the sea says, 'You'll never find it with me.' | 14‘It is not here,’ says the ocean. ‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea. |
15You can't buy it with gold, and its value cannot be calculated in silver. | 15It cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be purchased with silver. |
16It cannot be compared to gold from Ophir, with precious onyx, or with sapphire. | 16It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir, greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli. |
17It cannot be compared to gold and fine glass crystal, nor can it be exchanged for gold-plated weaponry. | 17Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold. |
18Don't even bother to mention coral and crystal— wisdom is more valuable than a bag of rubies. | 18Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it. The price of wisdom is far above rubies. |
19It can neither be compared with the topaz of Ethiopia nor valued in comparison to pure gold." | 19Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it. It’s worth more than the purest gold. |
20"From where, then, does wisdom originate? Where does understanding live? | 20“But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? |
21It has been concealed from the sight of every living creature and hidden even from the birds in the skies. | 21It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it. |
22Abaddon and death said, 'We did hear a rumor about it.' | 22Destruction and Death say, ‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’ |
23God understands how to get there; he knows where they live. | 23“God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found, |
24For he looks as far as the ends of the earth and sees everything under the sky. | 24for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens. |
25"He imparted weight to the wind; he regulated water by his measurement. | 25He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall. |
26He set in place ordinances for the rain; and determined the pathway for thunder that accompanies lightning. | 26He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning. |
27Then he looked at wisdom, and fixed it in place; he established it, and also examined it. | 27Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly. |
28He has commanded mankind: 'To fear the Lord—that is wisdom; to move away from evil—that 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.’” |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | 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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