Job 28
Job's Hymn to Wisdom: Where Can Wisdom Be Found?
1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. Parallel theme: Proverbs 17:3, Isaiah 48:10, 1 Peter 1:7
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. Parallel theme: Genesis 4:22, Numbers 31:22, Deuteronomy 8:9
3 He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4 The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold. Related: Song of Solomon 5:14. Parallel theme: Job 28:16, Exodus 24:10, Isaiah 54:11, Revelation 21:19
7 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: Parallel theme: Job 11:6
8 The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9 He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
10 He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
11 He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light. Light: 1 Corinthians 4:5
12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Parallel theme: Job 28:20, 28:28, Proverbs 3:19, Colossians 2:3, James 1:5, 1:17
13 Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
14 The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
15 It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. Parallel theme: Proverbs 8:19, 16:16
16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. Parallel theme: Psalms 45:9, Isaiah 13:12, Ezekiel 28:13
17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. Parallel theme: Revelation 22:1
18 No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. Parallel theme: Proverbs 3:15, 31:10, Lamentations 4:7, Ezekiel 27:16
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. Parallel theme: Exodus 28:17, 39:10, Proverbs 8:19, Ezekiel 28:13
20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? Parallel theme: Job 28:12, 28:23, 28:28, Proverbs 2:6, James 1:5, 1:17
21 Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. Parallel theme: Matthew 11:25, Colossians 2:3
22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. Parallel theme: Job 26:6
23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. References God: Romans 11:33, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Jude 1:25. Parallel theme: Proverbs 2:6
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; Parallel theme: Proverbs 15:3, Zechariah 4:10
25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. Parallel theme: Psalms 135:7
26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Light: Job 37:3, 38:25. Parallel theme: Zechariah 10:1
27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. Parallel theme: Psalms 19:1
28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. References Lord: Deuteronomy 29:29, Psalms 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, 9:10. Evil: Psalms 34:14, Proverbs 3:7, 16:17. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 4:6, Proverbs 13:14, Ecclesiastes 12:13 +5