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28:1  There are mines where silver is found. There are places where gold is purified.
28:2  Iron is taken out of the earth. Copper is melted down from ore.
28:3  Human beings light up the darkness. They search for ore in the deepest pits. They look for it in the blackest darkness.
28:4  Far from where people live they cut a tunnel. They do it in places where other people don’t go. Far away from people they swing back and forth on ropes.
28:5  Food grows on the surface of the earth. But far below, the earth is changed as if by fire.
28:6  Lapis lazuli is taken from the rocky earth. Its dust contains nuggets of gold.
28:7  No bird knows that hidden path. No falcon’s eye has seen it.
28:8  Proud animals don’t walk on it. Lions don’t prowl there.
28:9  Human hands attack the hardest rock. Their strong hands uncover the base of the mountains.
28:10  They tunnel through the rock. Their eyes see all its treasures.
28:11  They search the places where the rivers begin. They bring hidden things out into the light.
28:12  But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding live?
28:13  No human being understands how much it’s worth. It can’t be found anywhere in the world.
28:14  The ocean says, “It’s not in me.” The sea says, “It’s not here either.”
28:15  It can’t be bought with the finest gold. Its price can’t be weighed out in silver.
28:16  It can’t be bought with gold from Ophir. It can’t be bought with priceless onyx or lapis lazuli.
28:17  Gold or crystal can’t compare with it. It can’t be bought with jewels made of gold.
28:18  Don’t bother to talk about coral and jasper. Wisdom is worth far more than rubies.
28:19  A topaz from Cush can’t compare with it. It can’t be bought with the purest gold.
28:20  So where does wisdom come from? Where does understanding live?
28:21  It’s hidden from the eyes of every living thing. Even the birds in the sky can’t find it.
28:22  Death and the Grave say, “Only reports about it have reached our ears.”
28:23  But God understands the way to it. He is the only one who knows where it lives.
28:24  He sees from one end of the earth to the other. He views everything in the world.
28:25  He made the mighty wind. He measured out the waters.
28:26  He gave orders for the rain to fall. He made paths for the thunderstorms.
28:27  Then he looked at wisdom and set its price. He established it and tested it.
28:28  He said to human beings, “Have respect for the Lord. That will prove you are wise. Avoid evil. That will show you have understanding.”