Where Can Wisdom Be Found?
“Surely there is a mine for silver 1Pe 1:7Isa 48:10Mal 3:2-3Pro 17:31Ch 29:2-51Ki 10:211Ki 7:48-50Gen 2:11-12
and a place where gold is refined.
Iron is taken from the earth, Deu 8:9Gen 4:22Num 31:221Ch 22:14
and copper is smelted from ore.
Man puts an end to the darkness; Ecc 1:13Hab 2:13Job 10:21-22Job 12:22Job 38:16-17Luk 16:8Mat 6:33Pro 2:4
he probes the farthest recesses
for ore in deepest darkness.
Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft
in places forgotten by the foot of man.
Far from men he dangles and sways.
Food may come from the earth, Isa 28:25-29Ezk 28:13-14Gen 1:11-12Gen 1:29Psa 104:14-15
but from below it is transformed as by fire.
Its rocks are the source of sapphires, Exo 24:10Job 28:16Isa 54:11Rev 21:19Sng 5:14
containing flecks of gold.
No bird of prey knows that path; Job 11:6Job 28:21-23Job 38:19Job 38:24Rom 11:33
no falcon’s eye has seen it.
Proud beasts have never trodden it;
no lion has ever prowled over it.
The miner strikes the flint; Nam 1:4-6
he overturns mountains at their base.
He hews out channels in the rocks, Hab 3:9Pro 14:23Pro 24:4
and his eyes spot every treasure.
He stops up 1the sources of the streams 1Co 4:5Isa 45:2-3Isa 37:25Isa 44:27Job 26:8
to bring what is hidden to light.
But where can wisdom be found, Jas 1:5Job 28:20Pro 2:4-6Pro 3:191Co 1:19-20Col 2:3Ecc 7:23-25Jas 1:17
and where does understanding dwell?
No man can know its value, Pro 3:14-15Pro 8:11Pro 8:18-19Ecc 8:16-17Isa 53:8Job 28:15-19Job 28:21-22Mat 13:44-46
nor is it found in the land of the living.
The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ Rom 11:33-34
while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’
It cannot be bought with gold, Pro 16:16Pro 3:13-15Pro 8:10-11Pro 8:19Job 28:18Pro 8:17
nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, Ezk 28:13Isa 13:12Psa 45:91Ch 29:4Exo 28:20
in precious onyx or sapphire.
Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, Rev 22:1Ezk 1:22Pro 16:16Rev 21:11Rev 4:6
nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.
Coral and quartz are unworthy of mention; Pro 3:15Pro 31:10Ezk 27:16Lam 4:71Ti 2:9Mat 13:45-46Mat 7:6Pro 8:11
the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
Topaz from Cush 2cannot compare to it, Exo 28:17Exo 39:10Ezk 28:13Pro 8:19Rev 21:20
nor can it be valued in pure gold.
From where then does wisdom come, Job 28:12Jas 1:17Jas 1:5Job 28:28Job 28:231Co 2:6-15Ecc 7:23-24Pro 2:6
and where does understanding dwell?
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing Psa 49:3-41Co 2:7-10Col 2:3Mat 11:25Mat 13:35Mat 13:17
and concealed from the birds of the air.
Abaddon 3and Death say, Job 26:6Psa 83:10-12Job 28:14
‘We have heard a rumor about it.’
But God understands its way, Pro 8:22-311Co 1:30Jud 1:25Rom 11:33Pro 2:6Psa 147:5Act 15:18Luk 10:21-22
and He knows its place.
For He looks to the ends of the earth Pro 15:3Zec 4:102Ch 16:9Psa 33:13-14Rev 5:6
and sees everything under the heavens.
When God fixed the weight of the wind Psa 135:7Isa 40:12Job 12:15
and measured out the waters,
when He set a limit for the rain Job 38:25Job 37:3Zec 10:1Amo 4:7Jer 14:22Job 36:26Job 36:32Job 37:11
and a path for the thunderbolt,
then He looked at wisdom and appraised it; Psa 19:1Pro 8:22-29
He established it and searched it out.
And He said to man, ‘Behold, Psa 111:10Pro 1:7Pro 9:10Pro 3:7Ecc 12:13Deu 4:6Jas 3:13-17Psa 34:14
the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”