28:1 "Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.
28:2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.
28:3 Men put an end to darkness, and search out to the farthest bound the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
28:4 They open shafts in a valley away from where men live; they are forgotten by travelers, they hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.
28:5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread; but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
28:6 Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
28:7 "That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it.
28:8 The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.
28:9 "Man puts his hand to the flinty rock, and overturns mountains by the roots.
28:10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.
28:11 He binds up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hid he brings forth to light.
28:12 "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
28:13 Man does not know the way to it, and it is not 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 It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.
28:16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
28:17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
28:18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.
28:19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
28:20 "Whence then comes wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?
28:21 It is hid from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.
28:22 Abaddon and Death say, `We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'
28:23 "God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.
28:24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens.
28:25 When he gave to the wind its weight, and meted out the waters by measure;
28:26 when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder;
28:27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.
28:28 And he said to man, `Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'"
Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Terms of Use
This web tool was created by Eastern Orthodox Christian author Jonathan "C.J.S." Hayward: visit the main theology, literature, and books site!