Job 28:12-28

The Search for Wisdom Is Harder

^{Tools
12}

“But ^(A)where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?

^{Tools
13}

“^(B)Man does not know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.

^{Tools
14}

“The deep says, ‘It is not in me’;
And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

^{Tools
15}

“^(C)Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it,
Nor can silver be weighed as its price.

^{Tools
16}

“It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,
In precious onyx, or sapphire.

^{Tools
17}

“^(D)Gold or glass cannot equal it,
Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.

^{Tools
18}

“Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned;
And the acquisition of ^(E)wisdom is above that of pearls.

^{Tools
19}

“The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,
Nor can it be valued in ^(F)pure gold.

^{Tools
20}

“^(G)Where then does wisdom come from?
And where is the place of understanding?

^{Tools
21}

“Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living
And concealed from the birds of the sky.

^{Tools
22}

“^(a)^(H)Abaddon and Death say,
‘With our ears we have heard a report of it.’

^{Tools
23}

“^(I)God understands its way,
And He knows its place.

^{Tools
24}

“For He ^(J)looks to the ends of the earth
And sees everything under the heavens.

^{Tools
25}

“When He imparted ^(K)weight to the wind
And ^(L)meted out the waters by measure,

^{Tools
26}

When He set a ^(M)limit for the rain
And a course for the ^(N)thunderbolt,

^{Tools
27}

Then He saw it and declared it;
He established it and also searched it out.

^{Tools
28}

“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the ^(O)fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;
And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

Footnotes:

a. Job 28:22: ['I.e. Destruction']

Cross references:

A. Job 28:12: Job 28:23; Job 28:28

B. Job 28:13: Matthew 13:44-46

C. Job 28:15: Proverbs 3:13; Proverbs 3:14; Proverbs 8:10; Proverbs 8:11; Proverbs 16:16

D. Job 28:17: Proverbs 8:10; Proverbs 16:16

E. Job 28:18: Proverbs 8:11

F. Job 28:19: Proverbs 8:19

G. Job 28:20: Job 28:23; Job 28:28

H. Job 28:22: Job 26:6; Proverbs 8:32-36

I. Job 28:23: Job 9:4; Proverbs 8:22-36

J. Job 28:24: Psalm 11:4; Psalm 33:13; Psalm 33:14; Psalm 66:7; Proverbs 15:3

K. Job 28:25: Psalm 135:7

L. Job 28:25: Job 12:15; Job 38:8-11

M. Job 28:26: Job 37:6; Job 37:11; Job 37:12; Job 38:26-28

N. Job 28:26: Job 37:3; Job 38:25

O. Job 28:28: Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10