Man’s industry searcheth out many things: true wisdom is taught by God
alone.
28:1. Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place
wherein it is melted.
28:2. Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone melted with heat is
turned into brass.
28:3. He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he
considereth, the stone also that is in the dark and the shadow of
death.
28:4. The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey,
those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be
come at.
28:5. The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been
overturned with fire.
28:6. The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and the clods of it
are gold.
28:7. The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of the
vulture beheld it.
28:8. The children of the merchants have not trodden it, neither hath
the lioness passed by it.
28:9. He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned
mountains from the roots.
28:10. In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every
precious thing.
28:11. The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hidden things he
hath brought forth to light.
28:12. But where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of
understanding?
28:13. Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the
land of them that live in delights.
28:14. The depth saith: It is not in me: and the sea saith: It is not
with me.
28:15. The finest gold shall not purchase it, neither shall silver be
weighed in exchange for it.
28:16. It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, or with
the most precious stone sardonyx, or the sapphire.
28:17. Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of
gold be changed for it.
28:18. High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of
it: but wisdom is drawn out of secret places.
28:19. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it
be compared to the cleanest dyeing.
28:20. Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of
understanding?
28:21. It is hid from the eyes of all living, and the fowls of the air
know it not.
28:22. Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard the
fame thereof.
28:23. God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place
thereof.
28:24. For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all
things that are under heaven.
28:25. Who made a weight for the winds, and weighed the waters by
measure.
28:26. When he gave a law for the rain, and a way for the sounding
storms.
28:27. Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared, and searched it.
28:28. And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom:
and to depart from evil, is understanding.