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28:1 "Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold to be refined. 28:2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. 28:3 Miners put an end to darkness, and search out to the farthest bound the ore in gloom and deep darkness. 28:4 They open shafts in a valley away from human habitation; they are forgotten by travelers, they sway suspended, remote from people. 28:5 As for the earth, out of it comes bread; but underneath it is turned up as by fire. 28:6 Its stones are the place of sapphires, and its dust contains gold. 28:7 "That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it. 28:8 The proud wild animals have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it. 28:9 "They put their hand to the flinty rock, and overturn mountains by the roots. 28:10 They cut out channels in the rocks, and their eyes see every precious thing. 28:11 The sources of the rivers they probe; hidden things they bring to light. 28:12 "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? 28:13 Mortals do not know the way to it, and it is not found in the land of the living. 28:14 The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.' 28:15 It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed out as its price. 28:16 It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. 28:17 Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. 28:18 No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. 28:19 The chrysolite of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. 28:20 "Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding? 28:21 It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air. 28:22 Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.' 28:23 "God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. 28:24 For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens. 28:25 When he gave to the wind its weight, and apportioned out the waters by measure; 28:26 when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the thunderbolt; 28:27 then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out. 28:28 And he said to humankind, 'Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'"