Job 28:1 ←
Truly there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is washed out.
Job 28:2 ←
Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone is changed into brass by the fire.
Job 28:3 ←
Man puts an end to the dark, searching out to the farthest limit the stones of the deep places of the dark.
Job 28:4 ←
He makes a deep mine far away from those living in the light of day; when they go about on the earth, they have no knowledge of those who are under them, who are hanging far from men, twisting from side to side on a cord.
Job 28:5 ←
As for the earth, bread comes out of it; but under its face it is turned up as if by fire.
Job 28:6 ←
Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
Job 28:7 ←
No bird has knowledge of it, and the hawk's eye has never seen it.
Job 28:8 ←
The great beasts have not gone over it, and the cruel lion has not taken that way.
Job 28:9 ←
Man puts out his hand on the hard rock, overturning mountains by the roots.
Job 28:10 ←
He makes deep ways, cut through the rock, and his eye sees everything of value.
Job 28:11 ←
He keeps back the streams from flowing, and makes the secret things come out into the light.
Job 28:12 ←
But where may wisdom be seen? and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
Job 28:13 ←
Man has not seen the way to it, and it is not in the land of the living.
Job 28:14 ←
The deep waters say, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.
Job 28:15 ←
Gold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.
Job 28:16 ←
It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.
Job 28:17 ←
Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.
Job 28:18 ←
There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.
Job 28:19 ←
The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.
Job 28:20 ←
From where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
Job 28:21 ←
For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.
Job 28:22 ←
Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.
Job 28:23 ←
God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place;
Job 28:24 ←
For his eyes go to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under heaven.
Job 28:25 ←
When he made a weight for the wind, measuring out the waters;
Job 28:26 ←
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;
Job 28:27 ←
Then he saw it, and put it on record; he gave it its fixed form, searching it out completely.
Job 28:28 ←
And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.
Public Domain