(KJV) Job 28¹

⥃Where Can Wisdom Be Found?

[1] Surely there is a vein² for the silver³, and a place for gold [where] they fine [it⁴]. [2] Iron⁵ is taken out of the earth⁶, and brass [is] molten [out of] the stone. [3] He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth⁷ out all perfection: the stones⁸ 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. [5] [As for] the earth, out of it⁹ cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire¹⁰. [6] The stones of it [are] the place of sapphires¹¹: and it hath dust of gold¹². [7] [There is] a path¹³ which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen: [8] The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. [9] He putteth forth his hand upon the rock¹⁴; he overturneth¹⁵ the mountains by the roots. [10] He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing¹⁶. [11] He bindeth¹⁷ the floods from overflowing¹⁸; and [the thing¹⁹ that is] hid bringeth he forth to light. [12] But where shall wisdom be found? and where [is] the place of understanding?²⁰ [13] Man knoweth²¹ not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land²² of the living. [14] The depth saith, It [is] not in me: and the sea saith, [It is] not with me.²³ [15] It cannot be gotten for gold²⁴, neither shall silver be weighed [for] the price thereof. [16] It cannot be valued with the gold²⁵ of Ophir, with the precious onyx²⁶, or the sapphire. [17] The gold and the crystal²⁷ cannot equal it: and the exchange of it [shall not be for] jewels²⁸ of fine gold. [18] No mention shall be made of coral²⁹, or of pearls³⁰: for the price of wisdom [is] above rubies³¹. [19] The topaz³² 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?³³ [21] Seeing it is hid³⁴ from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls³⁵ of the air³⁶. [22] Destruction³⁷ and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. [23] God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.³⁸ [24] For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [and] seeth under the whole heaven;³⁹ [25] To make the weight⁴⁰ for the winds; and he weigheth⁴¹ the waters by measure. [26] When he made⁴² a decree for the rain, and a way⁴³ for the lightning of the thunder: [27] Then did he see it, and declare it⁴⁴; he prepared it⁴⁵, yea, and searched it out. [28] And unto man⁴⁶ he said, Behold, the fear⁴⁷ of the Lord, that [is] wisdom; and to depart⁴⁸ from evil [is] understanding.