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