Job 28
1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold [where] they fine [it].
For truly there is a source for the silver, and a place for the gold which men refine.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass [is] melted [out of] the stone.
Iron is taken out of the dust, and the stone is melted into copper.
3 He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shades of death.
An end doth he set to darkness, and the very utmost limit doth he search out, the stones of darkness, and of the shadow of death.
4 The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant: [even the waters] forgotten by the foot: they are dried up, they have gone away from men.
He breaketh a channel far from the inhabited place; those of unsteady foot, the poorest of men move [there about].
5 [As for] the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
The earth, out of which cometh forth bread, is under its surface turned up as it were with fire.
6 The stones of it [are] the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.
Her stones are the place whence the sapphire cometh; and golden dust is also there;
7 [There is] a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vultur's eye hath not seen:
[On the] path which no bird of prey knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not surveyed;
8 The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
[Which] ravenous beasts have never trodden, over which the lion hath never passed.
9 He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
To the flinty rock he stretcheth forth his hand; he overturneth the mountains from the root.
10 He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
Amid rocks he heweth out canals: and every precious thing doth his eye behold.
11 He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and [the thing that is] hid he bringeth forth to light.
The various droppings of water he uniteth into streams, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where [is] the place of understanding?
But wisdom—where shall she he found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Man knoweth not the price of it; neither is it found in the land of the living.
Man knoweth not her value: and she is not to be 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 saith, Not in me is she: and the sea saith, She is not with me.
15 It cannot be obtained for gold, neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price of it.
No fine gold can be given in lieu of her, and silver cannot be weighed out as her price.
16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
She 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.
She cannot be estimated after gold and glass; and not in exchange for her [can] vessels of refined gold [be taken.]
18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom [is] above rubies.
Coral and crystal will not be thought of; and the value of wisdom is above pearls.
19 The topaz of Cush shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
She cannot be estimated after the topaz of Ethiopia, nor can she be valued with pure gold.
20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where [is] the place of understanding?
But wisdom—whence cometh she? 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.
Yea, she is hidden from the eyes of all living, and from the fowls of the heavens is she concealed.
22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame of it with our ears.
Perdition and death say, With our ears have we heard a report of her.
23 God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth its place.
God [alone] understandeth her way, and he knoweth her place;
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [and] seeth under the whole heaven;
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [whatever is] under the whole heaven doth he see.
25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
When he imparted weight unto the wind; and [when] the waters he established by measure;
26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the lightning of [his] thunders;
27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
Then did he see her, and make her known; he established her, and also searched her out.
28 And to man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding.
And he said unto man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to eschew evil is understanding.
