Job 28

1Surely there is a source for silver, and a place for gold they refine.

2Iron is taken from the dust, and copper is smelted from the stone.

3He bounds the darkness and explores to the utmost the stones of thick gloom and the shadow of death.

4He breaks open a watercourse away from the sojourner, the forgotten ones of the foot, which dry up from mortals and wander.

5The earth yields bread from within it, yet underneath it lies overturned like fire.

6Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has gold dust.

7No bird of prey knows that path, nor has the vulture's eye seen it.

8Sons of pride have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed over it.

9He extends his hand against the flint rock and overturns the mountains from their roots.

10He cleaves brooks in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.

11He binds streams from their overflowing and brings what is hidden out to light.

12But where is wisdom found? Where is this place of understanding?

13No mortal knows its worth, nor is it found in the land of the living.

14The deep says, "It is not in me"; the sea says, "It is not with me."

15Gold is not given for it, nor silver weighed for its price.

16It cannot be valued with pure Ophir gold, with precious onyx, or sapphire.

17Neither gold nor crystal can equal it, nor its exchange be a vessel of fine gold.

18Coral and pearls are not mentioned, for the price of wisdom is greater than rubies.

19Ethiopian topaz does not match it, nor is it valued with pure gold.

20From where does wisdom come, and where is this place of understanding?

21It is hidden from the eyes of every living creature and concealed from the birds of the sky.

22Destruction and Death declare, "We have heard a report of it with our ears."

23God discerns its way, and he knows its place.

24For he beholds the ends of the earth and sees beneath all the heavens.

25He makes a weight for the wind, and measures the waters by measure.

26When he appointed a statute for the rain and a path for the thunderbolts,

27Then he perceived it and recounted it; he confirmed it, and also examined it.

28And he said to man, Behold, the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and turning from evil is understanding.