< Job 28 >

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

< Job 28 >