Job 28

Job Speaks of Wisdom and Understanding

28"People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold.H3426H4161H3701H4725H2091H22122They know where to dig iron from the earth and how to smelt copper from rock.H1270H3947H6083H5154H6694H683They know how to shine light in the darkness and explore the farthest regions of the earth as they search in the dark for ore.H7760H7093H2822H2713H8503H68H652H67574They sink a mine shaft into the earth far from where anyone lives. They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.H5158H6555H1481H7911H7272H1809H5128H5825Food is grown on the earth above, but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.H776H3318H3899H2015H7846Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli, and the dust contains gold.H68H4725H5601H6083H20917These are treasures no bird of prey can see, no falcon's eye observe.H5410H5861H3045H344H5869H78058No wild animal has walked upon these treasures; no lion has ever set his paw there.H7830H1121H1869H7826H57109People know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains.H7971H3027H2496H2015H2022H832810They cut tunnels in the rocks and uncover precious stones.H1234H2975H6697H5869H7200H336611They dam up the trickling streams and bring to light the hidden treasures.H2280H5104H1065H8587H3318H21612"But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?H370H2451H4672H4725H99813No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living.H582H3045H6187H4672H776H241614'It is not here,' says the ocean.'Nor is it here,' says the sea.H8415H559H3220H55915It cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be purchased with silver.H5414H5458H3701H8254H424216It's worth more than all the gold of Ophir, greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.H5541H3800H211H3368H7718H560117Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.H2091H2137H6186H8545H3627H633718Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it. The price of wisdom is far above rubies.H2142H7215H1378H4901H2451H644319Precious peridot from Ethiopia

cannot be exchanged for it. It's worth more than the purest gold.H6357H3568H6186H5541H2889H380020"But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?H370H935H2451H4725H99821It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.H5956H5869H2416H5641H5775H806422Destruction

and Death say, 'We've heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.'H11H4194H559H8085H8088H24123"God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found,H430H995H1870H3045H472524for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens.H5027H7098H776H7200H806425He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall.H6213H4948H7307H8505H4325H406026He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning.H6213H2706H4306H1870H2385H696327Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.H7200H5608H3559H271328And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'"H120H559H3374H136H2451H5493H7451H998