28:1 “There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
28:2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
28:3 Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
28:4 Far from where people dwell he cuts a shaft, in places forgotten by the foot of man; far from men he dangles and sways.
28:5 The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
28:6 sapphires come from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
28:7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.
28:8 Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
28:9 Man’s hand assaults the flinty rock and lays bare the roots of the mountains.
28:10 He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures.
28:11 He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light.
28:12 “But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
28:13 Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
28:14 The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
28:15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver.
28:16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires.
28:17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
28:18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
28:19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
28:20 “Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
28:21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air.
28:22 Destruction and Death say, ‘Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.’
28:23 God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
28:24 for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
28:25 When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
28:26 when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
28:27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
28:28 And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord–that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’”
28:1 There is certainly a mine for silver, / And a place for gold to be refined.
28:2 Iron is taken out of the earth, / And copper is smelted from rock.
28:3 The miner sets an end to the darkness, / And to the very end he searches out / The stones of deep darkness and of gloom.
28:4 He breaks open a shaft apart from where men dwell; / They are forgotten by the foot; / They are suspended apart from men, they sway about.
28:5 The earth ? from it comes forth food, / Yet underneath it, it is turned up as it were by fire.
28:6 Its stones are the place of sapphires, / And its dust has gold.
28:7 It is a path known by no bird of prey, / And the falcon’s eye has not seen it.
28:8 The proud beasts have not trodden it; / The fierce lion does not pass along it.
28:9 The miner sends forth his hand into the flinty rock; / He overturns the mountains by its roots.
28:10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, / And his eye sees every precious thing.
28:11 He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, / And that which is hidden he brings out to the light.
28:12 But where shall wisdom be found? / And where is the place of understanding?
28:13 Man does not know its price, / Nor is it found in the land of the living.
28:14 The deep says, It is not in me; / And the sea says, It is not with me.
28:15 Rare gold cannot be given for it, / Nor can silver be weighed out for its price.
28:16 It cannot be balanced with the gold of Ophir, / With precious onyx or with sapphire.
28:17 Gold and glass cannot compare with it, / Nor can vessels of fine gold be exchanged for it.
28:18 Coral and crystal cannot be mentioned with it; / Indeed the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls.
28:19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it, / Nor can it be balanced with pure gold.
28:20 From where then does wisdom come? / And where is the place of understanding?
28:21 For it is hidden from the eyes of all living / And concealed from the birds of heaven.
28:22 Abaddon and Death say, / We have heard a report of it with our ears.
28:23 God understands the way to it; / He knows its place.
28:24 For He sees to the ends of the earth; / He beholds all that is under heaven.
28:25 When He gave weight to the wind / And apportioned the water by measure,
28:26 When He made a decree for the rain / And a way for the thunderbolt;
28:27 Then He saw it and declared it; / He established it and even searched it out.
28:28 And He said to man, / Indeed, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; / And to depart from evil is understanding.