1Job sheweth that although man may by his industry search deep into nature, 12yet is the wisdom and understanding of God's ways beyond his reach, 23being comprehended by God only. 28Man's wisdom is to fear God and to depart from evil.
1SURELY there is 1a *vein for the silver, and a place for gold where athey fine it.
1Or, a mine, Ge. 2.11,12.
*vein-lengthy and regularly shaped occurrence of ore.
a Pr. 27.21; 17.3.
2Iron is taken out of the 2earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
2Or, dust, Ge. 4.22. De. 8.9; 33.25.
3He setteth an end to darkness, and bsearcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
b Ec. 1.13. 1Ki. 4.33.
4The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters cforgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
c Ps. 137.5.
5As for the earth, dout of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were efire.
d Ps. 104.14,15. Is. 28.28. Jn. 12.24. e Eze. 28.14.
6The stones of it are the place of fsapphires: and it hath dust of 3gold.
3Or, gold ore.
f v.16. Ex. 24.10; 28.18. Ca. 5.14. Is. 54.11.
7gThere is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:
g Is. 35.8,9. Ro. 3.17. Mat. 11.25. 1Co. 2.14. ch. 11.6.
8The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9He putteth forth his hand upon the 4rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
4Or, flint, Ca. 2.8. Is. 49.11; 64.1,2. Zec. 4.7.
10He hcutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
h Ps. 74.15. Is. 41.18,19. Hab. 3.9.
11He bindeth the floods 5from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
5Heb. from weeping, ch. 38.8-11; 26.8. 1Co. 4.5.
12But where shall iwisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
i v.20,28. Ec. 7.24. Ro. 11.33; 10.6,7. Ps. 51.6. 2Ti. 3.15-17. Pr. 8.
13Man jknoweth not the price thereof; neither is it kfound in the land of the living.
j v.14-19. 1Co. 2.14. Pr. 3.13-15. k v.14,21,22.
14The ldepth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
l Ro. 11.33,34. v.22.
156It mcannot be *gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
6Heb. Fine gold shall not be given for it.
*gotten-got, obtained.
m Pr. 3.13,14; 8.10,11,19; 16.16.
16It cannot be valued with nthe gold of oOphir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
n ch. 22.24. Ex. 28.8-10. Ps. 45.9. o 1Ki. 9.28.
17The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for 7jewels of fine gold.
7Or, vessels of gold.
18No mention shall be made of 8coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above prubies.
8Or, Ramoth, Eze. 27.16. Pr. 8.11,18,19.
p Pr. 3.15; 20.15; 31.10.
19The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20qWhence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
q v.12. Ec. 7.24. Ja. 1.5,17.
21Seeing rit is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the 9air.
9Or, heaven.
r Mat. 13.11,44. 1Co. 2.7,9.
22sDestruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
s v.14. Ps. 88.10-12. ch. 26.6. Pr. 15.11.
23tGod understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
t Ac. 15.18. He. 4.13. Jn. 21.17. Pr. 2.6; 8.22-31.
24For uhe looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;
u 2Ch. 16.9. Pr. 15.3. Zec. 4.10.
25To vmake the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
v Ps. 135.7. Is. 40.12. ch. 37.9-17.
26When whe made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
w Am. 4.7. Je. 5.22. Zec. 10.1. ch. 38.22-26; 37.2-22; 36.27-33. Pr. 8.27-31.
27Then did he see it, and 10declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
10Or, number it, Ps. 19.1. Ro. 1.20.
28And xunto man he said, Behold, ythe fear of the Lord, zthat is wisdom; and to adepart from evil is understanding.
x De. 29.29. 2Ti. 3.15-17. y Ps. 111.10. ch. 4.6. Pr. 1.7; 9.10. Ec. 12.13. De. 4.6. z Ja. 3.17. a Ps. 34.14; 37.27. Is. 1.16. 3Jn. 11. Pr. 3.7; 8.13; 16.6. ch. 1.1,8.