Job 28

Job speaks a great poem on wisdom, declaring that man can mine silver and gold from the earth but cannot discover where wisdom dwells. It is hidden from the eyes of all living and cannot be purchased with gold or precious stones. God alone understands its way: "The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom."

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.	"Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they refine it.
2	Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.	Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is melted out of the stone.
3	He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.	He sets an end to darkness, and searches out all perfection — the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4	The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.	The flood breaks out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot; they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
5	As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.	As for the earth, out of it comes bread; and under it is turned up as it were fire.
6	The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.	The stones of it are the place of sapphires; and it has dust of gold.
7	There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:	There is a path which no fowl knows, and which the vulture's eye has not seen.
8	The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.	The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9	He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.	He puts forth his hand on the rock; he overturns the mountains by the roots.
10	He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.	He cuts out rivers among the rocks; and his eye sees every precious thing.
11	He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.	He binds the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hidden he brings forth to light.
12	But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?	But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
13	Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.	Man does not know the price of it; neither is it found in the land of the living.
14	The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.	The depth says, 'It is not in me'; and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'
15	It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.	It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price of it.
16	It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.	It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17	The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.	The gold and the crystal cannot equal it; and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
18	No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.	No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls; for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19	The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.	The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20	Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?	From where then comes wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?
21	Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.	Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
22	Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.	Destruction and death say, 'We have heard the fame of it with our ears.'
23	God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.	God understands the way of it, and He knows the place of it.
24	For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;	For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heaven;
25	To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.	to make the weight for the winds; and he weighs the waters by measure.
26	When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:	When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder,
27	Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.	then he saw it, and declared it; he prepared it, yes, and searched it out.
28	And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.	And to man he said, 'See, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.' "