Bible in Basic English
It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.
Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.
There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.
The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.
From where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.
Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.
God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place;
For his eyes go to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under heaven.
When he made a weight for the wind, measuring out the waters;
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;
Then he saw it, and put it on record; he gave it its fixed form, searching it out completely.
And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.
— Job 28:16-1964, Bible in Basic English
“It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. ”
Man has not seen the way to it, and it is not in the land of the living.
The deep waters say, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.
Gold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.
It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.
Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.
There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.
The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.
From where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.
Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.
God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place;
For his eyes go to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under heaven.
When he made a weight for the wind, measuring out the waters;
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;
Then he saw it, and put it on record; he gave it its fixed form, searching it out completely.
And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.