| Chapter 28 |
1 |
Truly there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is washed out.
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2 |
Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone is changed into brass by the fire.
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3 |
Man puts an end to the dark, searching out to the farthest limit the stones of the deep places of the dark.
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4 |
He makes a deep mine far away from those living in the light of day; when they go about on the earth, they have no knowledge of those who are under them, who are hanging far from men, twisting from side to side on a cord.
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5 |
As for the earth, bread comes out of it; but under its face it is turned up as if by fire.
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6 |
Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
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7 |
No bird has knowledge of it, and the hawk's eye has never seen it.
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8 |
The great beasts have not gone over it, and the cruel lion has not taken that way.
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9 |
Man puts out his hand on the hard rock, overturning mountains by the roots.
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10 |
He makes deep ways, cut through the rock, and his eye sees everything of value.
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11 |
He keeps back the streams from flowing, and makes the secret things come out into the light.
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12 |
But where may wisdom be seen? and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
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13 |
Man has not seen the way to it, and it is not in the land of the living.
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14 |
The deep waters say, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.
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15 |
Gold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.
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16 |
It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.
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17 |
Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.
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18 |
There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.
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19 |
The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.
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20 |
From where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
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21 |
For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.
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22 |
Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.
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23 |
God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place;
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24 |
For his eyes go to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under heaven.
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25 |
When he made a weight for the wind, measuring out the waters;
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26 |
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;
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27 |
Then he saw it, and put it on record; he gave it its fixed form, searching it out completely.
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28 |
And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.
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