Geneva Study Bible Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. Surely there is a vein for the silver, {a} and a place for gold where they fine it.
(a) His purpose is to declare that man may attain in this world to various secrets of nature, but man is never able to comprehend the wisdom of God. Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death. He setteth an end to darkness, {b} and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
(b) There is nothing but it is compassed within certain limits, and has an end, but God's wisdom. The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men. The flood breaketh out from the {c} inhabitant; even the waters {d} forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
(c) Meaning, him that dwells by it. As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire. As for the earth, out of it cometh {e} bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
(e) That is, come and underneath is brimstone or coal, which easily conceives fire. The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold. The stones of it are the place {f} of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.
(f) He alludes to the mines and secrets of nature, which are under the earth, into which neither souls nor beasts can enter. There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:
The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. He putteth forth his hand upon the {g} rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.
(g) After he has declared the wisdom of God in the secrets of nature he describes his power. He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing. He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.
He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light. He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.
But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? But where shall wisdom be found? {h} and where is the place of understanding?
(h) Though God's power and wisdom may be understood in earthly things, yet his heavenly wisdom cannot be attained to. Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. Man knoweth not {i} the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
(i) It is too high a thing for man to attain to in this world. The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.
It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be gotten for {k} gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
(k) It can neither be bought for gold nor precious stones, but is only the gift of God. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 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. 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. No mention shall be made of coral, or of {l} pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
(l) Which was thought to be a king of precious stone. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. 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? 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. Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the {m} fowls of the air.
(m) Meaning that there is no natural means by which man can attain heavenly wisdom: which he means by the souls, that fly high. Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. God understandeth the {n} way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.
(n) He makes God the only author of this wisdom, and the giver of it. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; 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. 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: 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. 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. And unto man he said, Behold, the {o} fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (o) He declares that man has as much of this heavenly wisdom as he shows by fearing God and departing from evil. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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