Job 28

Job Chapter 28 ESV

1Job sheweth that although man may by his industry search deep into nature, 12yet is the wisdom and understanding of God's ways beyond his reach, 23being comprehended by God only. 28Man's wisdom is to fear God and to depart from evil.
1 “Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they 1refine.
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.
3 Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in 1gloom and 2deep darkness.
4 He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro.
5 As for the earth, 1out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire.
6 Its stones are the place of 1sapphires,a and it has dust of gold.
7 “That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it.
8 1The proud beasts have not trodden it; 2the lion has not passed over it.
9 “Man puts his hand to 1the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots.
10 He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.
11 He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light.
12 1“But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
13 Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in 1the land of the living.
14 1The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
15 It 1cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price.
16 It cannot be valued in 1the gold of 2Ophir, in precious 3onyx or 4sapphire.
17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
18 No mention shall be made of 1coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above 23pearls.
19 1The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20 “From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of 1all living and concealed from the birds of the air.
22 1Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’
23 1“God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.
24 For he 1looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25 When he 1gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,
26 when he made a decree for the rain and 1a way for the lightning of the thunder,
27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.
28 And he said to man, ‘Behold, 1the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to 2turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Job 28

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