Anonymous
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Jack Gutknecht
An angel appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean that in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior, the Lord will reward him with his choice of infinite wealth, wisdom or beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects infinite wisdom.
“Done!” says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning. Now, all heads turn toward the dean, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. At length, one of his colleagues whispers, “Say something.”
The dean looks at them and says, “I should have taken the money.”
Betsy Devine and Joel E. Cohen, Absolute Zero Gravity (Simon & Schuster), quoted in Reader’s Digest
Main cross-references to Job 28:28 are: Ps 111:10 — "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding."
Pr 1:7 — "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Pr 3:7 — "Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil." (Contains both elements!)
Pr 9:10 — "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."
Ps 34:14 — "Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
Pr 16:17 — "The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life."
1Pe 3:11 — "Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it." (Direct NT parallel to Ps 34:14)