It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

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It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.(A)

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29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

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29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God,(A) but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.(B)

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33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

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Doxology

33 Oh, the depth of the riches(A) of the wisdom and[a] knowledge of God!(B)
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!(C)
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”[b](D)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 11:33 Or riches and the wisdom and the
  2. Romans 11:34 Isaiah 40:13

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

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“Can you fathom(A) the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher(B) than the heavens(C) above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below(D)—what can you know?(E)

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Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

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You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’(A)
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.(B)

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Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?

36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

39 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.

Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.

Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.

He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.

The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.

Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in vain without fear;

17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?

20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.

21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.

23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?

27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?(A)
    Tell me, if you understand.(B)
Who marked off its dimensions?(C) Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line(D) across it?
On what were its footings set,(E)
    or who laid its cornerstone(F)
while the morning stars(G) sang together(H)
    and all the angels[a](I) shouted for joy?(J)

“Who shut up the sea behind doors(K)
    when it burst forth from the womb,(L)
when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,(M)
10 when I fixed limits for it(N)
    and set its doors and bars in place,(O)
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;(P)
    here is where your proud waves halt’?(Q)

12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,(R)
    or shown the dawn its place,(S)
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
    and shake the wicked(T) out of it?(U)
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;(V)
    its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,(W)
    and their upraised arm is broken.(X)

16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?(Y)
17 Have the gates of death(Z) been shown to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?(AA)
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?(AB)
    Tell me, if you know all this.(AC)

19 “What is the way to the abode of light?
    And where does darkness reside?(AD)
20 Can you take them to their places?
    Do you know the paths(AE) to their dwellings?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born!(AF)
    You have lived so many years!

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow(AG)
    or seen the storehouses(AH) of the hail,(AI)
23 which I reserve for times of trouble,(AJ)
    for days of war and battle?(AK)
24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,(AL)
    or the place where the east winds(AM) are scattered over the earth?(AN)
25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
    and a path for the thunderstorm,(AO)
26 to water(AP) a land where no one lives,
    an uninhabited desert,(AQ)
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
    and make it sprout with grass?(AR)
28 Does the rain have a father?(AS)
    Who fathers the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
    Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens(AT)
30 when the waters become hard as stone,
    when the surface of the deep is frozen?(AU)

31 “Can you bind the chains[b] of the Pleiades?
    Can you loosen Orion’s belt?(AV)
32 Can you bring forth the constellations(AW) in their seasons[c]
    or lead out the Bear[d] with its cubs?(AX)
33 Do you know the laws(AY) of the heavens?(AZ)
    Can you set up God’s[e] dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
    and cover yourself with a flood of water?(BA)
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?(BB)
    Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who gives the ibis wisdom[f](BC)
    or gives the rooster understanding?[g](BD)
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
    Who can tip over the water jars(BE) of the heavens(BF)
38 when the dust becomes hard(BG)
    and the clods of earth stick together?(BH)

39 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
    and satisfy the hunger of the lions(BI)
40 when they crouch in their dens(BJ)
    or lie in wait in a thicket?(BK)
41 Who provides food(BL) for the raven(BM)
    when its young cry out to God
    and wander about for lack of food?(BN)

39 “Do you know when the mountain goats(BO) give birth?
    Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?(BP)
Do you count the months till they bear?
    Do you know the time they give birth?(BQ)
They crouch down and bring forth their young;
    their labor pains are ended.
Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds;
    they leave and do not return.

“Who let the wild donkey(BR) go free?
    Who untied its ropes?
I gave it the wasteland(BS) as its home,
    the salt flats(BT) as its habitat.(BU)
It laughs(BV) at the commotion in the town;
    it does not hear a driver’s shout.(BW)
It ranges the hills(BX) for its pasture
    and searches for any green thing.

“Will the wild ox(BY) consent to serve you?(BZ)
    Will it stay by your manger(CA) at night?
10 Can you hold it to the furrow with a harness?(CB)
    Will it till the valleys behind you?
11 Will you rely on it for its great strength?(CC)
    Will you leave your heavy work to it?
12 Can you trust it to haul in your grain
    and bring it to your threshing floor?

13 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
    though they cannot compare
    with the wings and feathers of the stork.(CD)
14 She lays her eggs on the ground
    and lets them warm in the sand,
15 unmindful that a foot may crush them,
    that some wild animal may trample them.(CE)
16 She treats her young harshly,(CF) as if they were not hers;
    she cares not that her labor was in vain,
17 for God did not endow her with wisdom
    or give her a share of good sense.(CG)
18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run,
    she laughs(CH) at horse and rider.

19 “Do you give the horse its strength(CI)
    or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?
20 Do you make it leap like a locust,(CJ)
    striking terror(CK) with its proud snorting?(CL)
21 It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength,(CM)
    and charges into the fray.(CN)
22 It laughs(CO) at fear, afraid of nothing;
    it does not shy away from the sword.
23 The quiver(CP) rattles against its side,
    along with the flashing spear(CQ) and lance.
24 In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground;
    it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.(CR)
25 At the blast of the trumpet(CS) it snorts, ‘Aha!’
    It catches the scent of battle from afar,
    the shout of commanders and the battle cry.(CT)

26 “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom
    and spread its wings toward the south?(CU)
27 Does the eagle soar at your command
    and build its nest on high?(CV)
28 It dwells on a cliff and stays there at night;
    a rocky crag(CW) is its stronghold.
29 From there it looks for food;(CX)
    its eyes detect it from afar.
30 Its young ones feast on blood,
    and where the slain are, there it is.”(CY)

Footnotes

  1. Job 38:7 Hebrew the sons of God
  2. Job 38:31 Septuagint; Hebrew beauty
  3. Job 38:32 Or the morning star in its season
  4. Job 38:32 Or out Leo
  5. Job 38:33 Or their
  6. Job 38:36 That is, wisdom about the flooding of the Nile
  7. Job 38:36 That is, understanding of when to crow; the meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.

32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

33 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

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Solomon’s Wisdom

29 God gave Solomon wisdom(A) and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand(B) on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East,(C) and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.(D) 31 He was wiser(E) than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs(F) and his songs(G) numbered a thousand and five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop(H) that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings(I) of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 4:34 In Hebrew texts 4:21-34 is numbered 5:1-14.

16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

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16 I was a father to the needy;(A)
    I took up the case(B) of the stranger.(C)

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Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.

16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

19 And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.

22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.

27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

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So give your servant a discerning(A) heart to govern your people and to distinguish(B) between right and wrong. For who is able(C) to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked(D) for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment(E) in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked.(F) I will give you a wise(G) and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not(H) asked for—both wealth and honor(I)—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal(J) among kings. 14 And if you walk(K) in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”(L) 15 Then Solomon awoke(M)—and he realized it had been a dream.(N)

He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings(O) and fellowship offerings.(P) Then he gave a feast(Q) for all his court.

A Wise Ruling

16 Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 One of them said, “Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. 18 The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.

19 “During the night this woman’s son died because she lay on him. 20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. 21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn’t the son I had borne.”

22 The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.”

But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king.

23 The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,’ while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.’”

24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So they brought a sword for the king. 25 He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”

26 The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved(R) out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!”

But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”

27 Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”

28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom(S) from God to administer justice.

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15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.

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15 so that a search may be made in the archives(A) of your predecessors. In these records you will find that this city is a rebellious city, troublesome to kings and provinces, a place with a long history of sedition. That is why this city was destroyed.(B)

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19 And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.

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19 I issued an order and a search was made, and it was found that this city has a long history of revolt(A) against kings and has been a place of rebellion and sedition.

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Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

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“Will the one who contends with the Almighty(A) correct him?(B)
    Let him who accuses God answer him!”(C)

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17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.

17 Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives(A) of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.

The Decree of Darius

King Darius then issued an order, and they searched in the archives(B) stored in the treasury at Babylon.