Job 28
Man cannot find wisdom, despite his ability to extract precious metals and gems from the earth. Wisdom is more valuable than gold, silver, or precious stones, and its price cannot be measured. Even the depths of the sea and the abyss do not know where wisdom is found. God alone understands the way of wisdom and knows its location, and He has declared that the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to withdraw from evil is understanding.
1Silver has its fissures where it is first found, and gold has a place where it is melted2Iron is taken from the earth, and ore, unbound by heat, is turned into brass3He has established a time for darkness, and he has settled on an end for all things, as well as for the stone that is in the gloom and shadow of death4The burning separates a pilgrim people from those who have been forgotten by the feet of the destitute man and from the unapproachable5The land, where bread appeared in its place, has been destroyed by fire6Its stones are embedded with sapphires, and its soil, with gold7The bird does not know its path, nor has the eye of the vulture beheld it8The sons of merchants have not walked there, nor has the lioness traveled through it9He has stretched out his hand to the rocks; he has overturned the foundations of the mountains10He has cut rivers through the rocks, and his eye has seen all precious things11The depths of rivers he has also examined, and he has brought hidden things into the light12But, in truth, where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding13Man does not know its price, nor is it found in the land of those who live in sweetness14The abyss declares, "It is not in me." And the sea says, "It is not with me.15The finest gold will not be paid for it, nor will silver be weighed in exchange for it16It will not be compared with the dyed colors of India, nor with the very costly stone sardonyx, nor with the sapphire17Neither gold nor crystal will be its equal; neither will vessels of gold be fitted for it18The exalted and the eminent will not be remembered in comparison with it. Yet wisdom is drawn out of concealment19The topaz of Ethiopia will not be equal to it, nor will it be compared to the purest dyes20So then, where does wisdom begin, and where is the place of understanding21It has been hidden from the eyes of all living things, just as the birds of the heavens escape notice22Perdition and death have said, "With our ears, we have heard its fame.23God understands its way, and he knows its location24For he beholds the limits of the world, and he looks upon all things that are under heaven25He created a counterweight for the winds, and he suspended the waters to measure them26At that time, he gave a law to the rain and a path to the resounding storms27Then he saw and explained it, and he made ready and examined it28And he said to man, "Behold the fear of the Lord. Such is wisdom. And to withdraw from evil, this is understanding.
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