60 lines
2.5 KiB
Markdown
60 lines
2.5 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 28
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1 “People know where to mine silver
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and how to refine gold.
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2 They know where to dig iron from the earth
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and how to smelt copper from rock.
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3 They know how to shine light in the darkness
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and explore the farthest regions of the earth
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as they search in the dark for ore.
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4 They sink a mine shaft into the earth
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far from where anyone lives.
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They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.
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5 Food is grown on the earth above,
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but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.
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6 Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli,
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and the dust contains gold.
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7 These are treasures no bird of prey can see,
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no falcon’s eye observe.
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8 No wild animal has walked upon these treasures;
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no lion has ever set his paw there.
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9 People know how to tear apart flinty rocks
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and overturn the roots of mountains.
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10 They cut tunnels in the rocks
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and uncover precious stones.
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11 They dam up the trickling streams
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and bring to light the hidden treasures.
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12 “But do people know where to find wisdom?
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Where can they find understanding?
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13 No one knows where to find it,
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for it is not found among the living.
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14 ‘It is not here,’ says the ocean.
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‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.
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15 It cannot be bought with gold.
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It cannot be purchased with silver.
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16 It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir,
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greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
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17 Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.
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It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.
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18 Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it.
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The price of wisdom is far above rubies.
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19 Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it.
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It’s worth more than the purest gold.
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20 “But do people know where to find wisdom?
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Where can they find understanding?
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21 It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.
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Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.
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22 Destruction and Death say,
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‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’
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23 “God alone understands the way to wisdom;
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he knows where it can be found,
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24 for he looks throughout the whole earth
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and sees everything under the heavens.
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25 He decided how hard the winds should blow
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and how much rain should fall.
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26 He made the laws for the rain
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and laid out a path for the lightning.
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27 Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
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He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
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28 And this is what he says to all humanity:
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‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
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to forsake evil is real understanding.’” |