| 章 |
| 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 |
Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.
|
| 28:4 |
Far from where people dwell he cuts a shaft, in places forgotten by the foot of man; far from men he dangles and sways.
|
| 28:5 |
The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;
|
| 28:6 |
sapphires come 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 |
Man's hand assaults the flinty rock and lays bare the roots of the mountains.
|
| 28:10 |
He tunnels through the rock; his eyes see all its treasures.
|
| 28:11 |
He searches the sources of the rivers and brings hidden things to light.
|
| 28:12 |
"But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
|
| 28:13 |
Man does not comprehend 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 in silver.
|
| 28:16 |
It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires.
|
| 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 of the air.
|
| 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 man, `The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.' "
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