Job 28:12–28

¹²But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding? ¹³Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.

¹⁴The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me. ¹⁵Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price. ¹⁶It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire. ¹⁷Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange. ¹⁸Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies. ¹⁹The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.

²⁰Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? ²¹For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens. ²²Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears. ²³God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place: ²⁴For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven. ²⁵In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure, ²⁶In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder’s flash: ²⁷Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out; ²⁸And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.