1
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Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place wherein it is melted.
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2
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Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone melted with heat is turned into brass.
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3
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He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he considereth, the stone also that is in the dark and the shadow of death.
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4
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The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey, those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be come at.
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5
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The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been overturned with fire.
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6
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The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and the clods of it are gold.
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7
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The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of the vulture beheld it.
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8
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The children of the merchants have not trodden it, neither hath the lioness passed by it.
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9
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He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned mountains from the roots.
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10
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In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every precious thing.
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11
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The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hidden things he hath brought forth to light.
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12
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But where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?
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13
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Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of them that live in delights.
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14
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The depth saith: It is not in me: and the sea saith: It is not with me.
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15
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The finest gold shall not purchase it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
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16
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It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, or with the most precious stone sardonyx, or the sapphire.
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17
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Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of gold be changed for it.
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18
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High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of it: but wisdom is drawn out of secret places.
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19
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The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it be compared to the cleanest dyeing.
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20
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Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
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21
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It is hid from the eyes of all living, and the fowls of the air know it not.
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22
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Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard the fame thereof.
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23
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God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place thereof.
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24
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For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all things that are under heaven.
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25
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Who made a weight for the winds, and weighed the waters by measure.
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26
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When he gave a law for the rain, and a way for the sounding storms.
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27
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Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared, and searched it.
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28
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And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, is understanding.
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