| Chapter 28 |
1 |
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;
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2 |
Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.
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3 |
[Man] putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.
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4 |
He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.
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5 |
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;
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6 |
The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.
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7 |
It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it;
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8 |
The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it.
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9 |
[Man] putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.
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10 |
He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.
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11 |
He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
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12 |
But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding?
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13 |
Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.
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14 |
The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me.
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15 |
Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.
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16 |
It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire.
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17 |
Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.
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18 |
Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.
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19 |
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.
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20 |
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
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21 |
For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens.
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22 |
Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears.
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23 |
God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:
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24 |
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven.
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25 |
In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,
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26 |
In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:
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27 |
Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out;
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28 |
And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
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