Job 28:1-28 NLT

[1] "People know where to mine silver and how to refine gold. [2] They know where to dig iron from the earth and how to smelt copper from rock. [3] They know how to shine light in the darkness and explore the farthest regions of the earth as they search in the dark for ore. [4] They sink a mine shaft into the earth far from where anyone lives. They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth. [5] Food is grown on the earth above, but down below, the earth is melted as by fire. [6] Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli, and the dust contains gold. [7] These are treasures no bird of prey can see, no falcon's eye observe. [8] No wild animal has walked upon these treasures; no lion has ever set his paw there. [9] People know how to tear apart flinty rocks and overturn the roots of mountains. [10] They cut tunnels in the rocks and uncover precious stones. [11] They dam up the trickling streams and bring to light the hidden treasures. [12] "But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? [13] No one knows where to find it, for it is not found among the living. [14] 'It is not here,' says the ocean. 'Nor is it here,' says the sea. [15] It cannot be bought with gold. It cannot be purchased with silver. [16] It's worth more than all the gold of Ophir, greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli. [17] Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal. It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold. [18] Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it. The price of wisdom is far above rubies. [19] Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it. It's worth more than the purest gold. [20] "But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding? [21] It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity. Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it. [22] Destruction and Death say, 'We've heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.' [23] "God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found, [24] for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens. [25] He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall. [26] He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning. [27] Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it. He set it in place and examined it thoroughly. [28] And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'"