He looks at the state of mankind, generally. He talks of what men, even in that early day were doing, in mining silver and gold, iron and "brass" (copper), and changing the course of streams. But such knowledge and ability were not wisdom—where should it be found? Man knows not its value, only destruction and death can say, "We have heard its report with our ears" (verse 22).
But God not only gave to man the knowledge and ability to do great engineering feats; He put man in relationship with Himself, and the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding (verse 28).