- 1
- Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;
- 2
- Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.
- 3
- [Man] putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.
- 4
- He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended;
away below men they hover.
- 5
- As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;
- 6
- The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.
- 7
- It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it;
- 8
- The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it.
- 9
- [Man] putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.
- 10
- He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.
- 11
- He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
- 12
- But wisdom, where shall it be found?
and where is the place of understanding?
- 13
- Man knoweth not the value thereof;
and it is not found in the land of the living.
- 14
- The deep saith, It is not in me;
and the sea saith, It is not with me.
- 15
- Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.
- 16
- It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire.
- 17
- Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.
- 18
- Corals and crystal are no more remembered;
yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.
- 19
- The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.
- 20
- Whence then cometh wisdom?
and where is the place of understanding?
- 21
- For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens.
- 22
- Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears.
- 23
- God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:
- 24
- For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven.
- 25
- In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,
- 26
- In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:
- 27
- Then did he see it, and declare it;
he established it, yea, and searched it out;
- 28
- And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
and to depart from evil is understanding.
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