Chapter 28

Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold [where] they fine⁴ [it].

Iron is taken⁹³ out of the earth, and brass [is] molten⁴ [out of] the stone.

He setteth¹ an end to darkness, and searcheth out⁶ all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.

The flood breaketh out¹ from the inhabitant;⁶ [even the waters] forgotten¹² of the foot: they are dried up,¹ they are gone away¹ from men.

[As for] the earth, out of it cometh⁴ bread: and under it is turned up⁸ as it were fire.

The stones of it [are] the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.

[There is] a path which no fowl knoweth,¹ and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:¹

The lion's whelps have not trodden⁵² it, nor the fierce lion passed¹ by it.

He putteth forth¹ his hand upon the rock; he overturneth¹ the mountains by the roots.

He cutteth out¹⁴ rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth¹ every precious thing.

He bindeth¹⁴ the floods from overflowing; and [the thing that is] hid bringeth he forth⁵⁵ to light.

But where shall wisdom be found?¹¹ and where [is] the place of understanding?

Man knoweth¹ not the price thereof; neither is it found¹¹ in the land of the living.

The depth saith,¹ It [is] not in me: and the sea saith,¹ [It is] not with me.

It cannot be gotten⁹³ for gold, neither shall silver be weighed¹¹ [for] the price thereof.

It cannot be valued²⁹ with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

The gold and the crystal cannot equal⁴ it: and the exchange of it [shall not be for] jewels of fine gold.

No mention¹¹ shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom [is] above rubies.

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal⁴ it, neither shall it be valued²⁹ with pure gold.

Whence then cometh⁴ wisdom? and where [is] the place of understanding?

Seeing it is hid⁸ from the eyes of all living, and kept close⁸ from the fowls of the air.

Destruction and death say,¹ We have heard¹ the fame thereof with our ears.

God understandeth⁵² the way thereof, and he knoweth¹ the place thereof.

For he looketh⁵⁵ to the ends of the earth, [and] seeth⁴ under the whole heaven;

To make² the weight for the winds; and he weigheth¹⁴ the waters by measure.

When he made² a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

Then did he see¹ it, and declare¹⁷ it; he prepared⁵² it, yea, and searched it out.¹

And unto man he said,⁴ Behold, the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom; and to depart² from evil [is] understanding.