Job 28

1 For 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 fine it.

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

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

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

He sets an end to darkness, and searches out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

4 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.

The flood breaks out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.

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

As for the earth, out of it comes bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.

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

The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it has dust of gold.

7 That path no bird of prey knoweth, neither hath the falcon's eye seen it;

There is a path which no fowl knows, and which the vulture's eye has not seen:

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

The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.

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

He puts forth his hand upon the rock; he overturns the mountains by the roots.

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

He cuts out rivers among the rocks; and his eye sees every precious thing.

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

He binds the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid brings 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 price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

Man knows 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 depth says, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.

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

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

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; neither shall the exchange thereof be vessels 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, neither shall it be valued 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 comes wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

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 thereof with our ears.'

Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

23 God understandeth the way thereof, and He knoweth the place thereof.

God understands the way thereof, and he knows the place thereof.

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

For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heaven;

25 When He maketh a weight for the wind, and meteth out the waters by measure.

To make the weight for the winds; and he weights the waters by measure.

26 When He made a decree for the rain, and a way for the storm of thunders;

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 prepared it, yea, and searched it out.

28 And unto man He said: 'Behold, 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.