Job - Chapter 28 | New International Version

  • 1. There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
  • 2. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
  • 3. Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
  • 4. Far from where people dwell he cuts a shaft, in places forgotten by the foot of man; far from men he dangles and sways.
  • 5. The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
  • 6. sapphires come from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
  • 7. No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it.
  • 8. Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
  • 9. Man's hand assaults the flinty rock and lays bare the roots of the mountains.
  • 10. He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures.
  • 11. He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light.
  • 12. But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
  • 13. Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
  • 14. The deep says, 'It is not in me'; the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
  • 15. It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver.
  • 16. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires.
  • 17. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
  • 18. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
  • 19. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
  • 20. Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
  • 21. It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air.
  • 22. Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'
  • 23. God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
  • 24. for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
  • 25. When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
  • 26. when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
  • 27. then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
  • 28. And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.' "
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