Job - Chapter 28 - New International Version
- 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.
- Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
- Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway.
- The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
- lapis lazuli comes 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.
- People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
- They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.
- They search "the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.
- But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
- No mortal comprehends 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 out in silver.
- It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
- 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 in the sky.
- 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 the human race, "The fear of the Lord —that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."