Job 28

1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;

Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.

2 Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.

Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.

3 [Man] putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.

[Man] setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out to the furthest bound the stones of thick darkness and of the shadow of death.

4 He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.

He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; they are forgotten of the foot [that passeth by]; they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.

5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;

As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.

6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.

The stones thereof are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.

7 It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it;

That path no bird of prey knoweth, neither hath the falcon’s eye seen it:

8 The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it.

The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor hath the fierce lion passed thereby.

9 [Man] putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.

He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.

10 He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.

He cutteth out channels among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.

11 He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.

He bindeth the streams that they trickle not; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.

12 But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding?

But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

13 Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.

Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

14 The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me.

The deep saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

15 Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.

It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

16 It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire.

It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

17 Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.

Gold and glass cannot equal it: neither shall the exchange thereof be jewels of fine gold.

18 Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.

No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal: yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies.

19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

21 For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl 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 its report with our ears.

Destruction and Death say, We have heard a rumour thereof with our ears.

23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven.

For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

25 In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,

To make a weight for the wind; yea, he meteth out the waters by measure.

26 In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:

When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out;

Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out.

28 And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.