Job 28
1 Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they refine it.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is molten out of the stone.
Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is melted out of the stone.
3 Man sets an end to darkness, and searches out to the furthest bound the stones of obscurity and of thick darkness.
He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4 He breaks open a shaft away from where men sojourn, paths forgotten by the foot. They hang afar from men; they swing to and fro.
The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten by the foot: they are dried up, they have gone away from men.
5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread, and underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.
7 No bird of prey knows that path, nor has the falcon's eye seen it.
There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:
8 The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed thereby.
The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9 He puts forth his hand upon the flinty rock. He overturns the mountains by the roots.
He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
10 He cuts out channels among the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.
He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
11 He binds the streams that they not trickle. And the thing that is hid he brings forth to light.
He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid he bringeth forth to light.
12 But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know the price of it, nor is it found in the land of the living.
Man knoweth not the price of it; neither is it found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, It is not in me. And the sea says, It is not with me.
The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
15 It cannot be gotten for gold, nor shall silver be weighed for the price of it.
It cannot be obtained for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price of it.
16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal. Yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies.
No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, nor shall it be valued with pure gold.
The topaz of Cush shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20 Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding?
Where then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21 Since it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept closed from the birds of the heavens.
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
22 Destruction and Death say, We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.
Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame of it with our ears.
23 God understands the way of it, and he knows the place of it.
God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth its place.
24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heaven,
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
25 to make a weight for the wind. Yea, he distributes the waters by measure.
To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder,
When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
27 then he saw it, and declared it. He established it, yea, and searched it out.
Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
28 And to man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.
And to man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
