CHAP. XXVIII.
SILVER hath [1] beginnings of her vaines, and gold hath a place, wherein it is molten. 2Yron is taken out of the earth, & stone resolued with heate, is turned into brasse. 3He hath set a time for darkenesse, & the end of al things he considereth, the stone also of darkenesse, and the shadow of death. 4The [2] torrent diuideth from the pilgrime people, them whom the foote of the needie man hath forgotten, and to whom there is no way. 5The land, out of which bread grew in his place, is destroyed with fire. 6The place of the sapphire the stones therof, and the clods of it gold. 7The bird hath not knowen the path, neither hath the eie of the vulter beheld it. 8The children of merchants haue not troden it, neither hath the lionesse passed by it. 9He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath ouerthrowen mountaines from the rootes. 10In the rockes he hath cut out riuers, and his eie hath seene euerie precious thing. 11The depths also of riuers he hath searched, & hid things he hath brought forth to light: 12But where is wisdome to be found, and what is the place of vnderstanding? 13Man knoweth not the price therof, [3] neither is it found in the land of them that liue pleasently. 14The depth sayth: It is not in me: and the sea speaketh: It is not with me. 15The finest gold shal not be giuen for it, neither shal siluer be weyed in the change therof. 16It shal not be compared with the died colours of India, nor with Sardonyx the most precious stone, or with the Sapphire. 17Gold or glasse shal not be equal to it, neither shal vessels of gold be changed for it. 18High and eminent things shal not be mentioned in comparison of it: and wisedom is drawen out of secret places. 19The topazius of Æthiopia shal not be equal to it, neither shal it be compared to the cleanest dying. 20From whence then commeth wisedom? and what is the place of vnderstanding? 21It is hid from the eies of al liuing, the foules of the ayre also know it not. 22Perdition & death haue sayd: With our eares we haue heard the fame therof. 23God vnderstandeth the way of it, & he knoweth the place therof. 24For he beholdeth the endes of the world: & looketh on al things that are vnder heauen. 25Who made a poise to the winds, & weyed the waters in a measure. 26When he gaue a law to the raynes, & a way to the
