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