Job 28 Man knows the things of the earth, but wisdom is a gift from God.

 Job 28

Man knows the things of the earth, but wisdom is a gift from God.

1 Surely there are veins for silver, and a place for gold to be refined.

2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and metal is smelted out of stone.

3 He has put an end to darkness, and he searches out every end; the stones of darkness and the shadow of death.

4 The brook overflows to the one who dwells by it, so that no one can pass by on foot; then man intervenes, and the waters disappear.

5 The earth, from which bread comes, is torn apart beneath as by fire.

6 Its stones are the place of sapphire, and it contains dust of gold.

7 The bird of prey does not know it, and the eye of the raven has not seen it.

8 No young of the proud beasts have trodden it, nor has a fierce lion passed through it. 

9 He stretches out his hand against the rock, and shakes the mountains from their roots.

10 He brings out rivers from the rocks, and his eye discovers every precious thing.

11 He stops the rivers, so that not a drop comes out, and brings out what was hidden to the light.

12 But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?

13 Man does not know its value; it is not found in the land of the living.

14 The deep says, "It is not in me," and the sea says, "It is not with me."

15 Fine gold cannot be given for it, nor can silver be weighed for its price.

16 It cannot be valued for the gold of Ophir, or for the precious onyx or the sapphire.

17 Gold or crystal cannot compare with it, nor can it be exchanged for an ornament of fine gold.

18 It causes coral and pearls to be forgotten; For the price of wisdom is better than rubies.

19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot be compared to it, nor can it be valued with pure gold.

20 Whence then comes wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

21 For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.

22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame of it with our ears.

23 God understands its way, and he knows its place.

24 For he sees the ends of the earth; he beholds all that is under the heavens.

25 When he gave a weight to the wind, and measured the waters.

26 When he appointed a law for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder;

27 Then he saw it, and declared it; he established it, and also divided it.

 28 But he said to man, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”