Job 28:12–28

¹²And the wisdom—whence is it found? And where is this, the place of understanding? ¹³Man hath not known its arrangement, Nor is it found in the land of the living.

¹⁴The deep hath said, ‘It is not in me,’ And the sea hath said, ‘It is not with me.’ ¹⁵Gold is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed—its price. ¹⁶It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, With precious onyx and sapphire, ¹⁷Not equal it do gold and crystal, Nor is its exchange a vessel of fine gold. ¹⁸Corals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom is above rubies. ¹⁹Not equal it doth the topaz of Cush, With pure gold it is not valued.

²⁰And the wisdom—whence doth it come? And where is this, the place of understanding? ²¹It hath been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the fowl of the heavens It hath been hidden. ²²Destruction and death have said: ‘With our ears we have heard its fame.’ ²³God hath understood its way, And He hath known its place. ²⁴For He to the ends of the earth doth look, Under the whole heavens He doth see, ²⁵To make for the wind a weight, And the waters He meted out in measure. ²⁶In His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices, ²⁷Then He hath seen and declareth it, He hath prepared it, and also searched it out, ²⁸And He saith to man:—‘Lo, fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to turn from evil is understanding.’

Chapter 29