1
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Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine; |
2
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Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone. |
3
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[Man] putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death. |
4
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He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover. |
5
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As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire; |
6
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The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold. |
7
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It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it; |
8
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The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it. |
9
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[Man] putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root. |
10
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He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing. |
11
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He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light. |
12
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But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding? |
13
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Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living. |
14
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The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me. |
15
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Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price. |
16
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It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire. |
17
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Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange. |
18
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Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies. |
19
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The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold. |
20
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Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? |
21
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For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens. |
22
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Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears. |
23
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God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place: |
24
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For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven. |
25
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In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure, |
26
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In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash: |
27
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Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out; |
28
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And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. |