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28:1  There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
28:2  Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
28:3  Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
28:4  Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway.
28:5  The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
28:6  lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.
28:7  No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it.
28:8  Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.
28:9  People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.
28:10  They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.
28:11  They search the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.
28:12  But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
28:13  No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
28:14  The deep says, "It is not in me"; the sea says, "It is not with me."
28:15  It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
28:16  It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
28:17  Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
28:18  Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
28:19  The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.
28:20  Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?
28:21  It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.
28:22  Destruction and Death say, "Only a rumor of it has reached our ears."
28:23  God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
28:24  for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
28:25  When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
28:26  when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
28:27  then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
28:28  And he said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."