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1.
"There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
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2.
Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
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3.
Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
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4.
Far from where people dwell he cuts a shaft, in places forgotten by the foot of man; far from men he dangles and sways.
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5.
The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
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6.
sapphires come from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
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7.
No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it.
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8.
Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
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9.
Man's hand assaults the flinty rock and lays bare the roots of the mountains.
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10.
He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures.
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11.
He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light.
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12.
"But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
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13.
Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
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14.
The deep says, 'It is not in me'; the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
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15.
It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver.
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16.
It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires.
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17.
Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
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18.
Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
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19.
The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
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20.
"Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
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21.
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air.
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22.
Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'
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23.
God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
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24.
for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
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25.
When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
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26.
when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
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27.
then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
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28.
And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'"
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