This is a very remarkable chapter; it pursues man's skill as doing all sorts of things—skill, metallurgy, engineering, binding the floods, and bringing forth hidden things from the earth. Skill, unlimited in a certain sense, in what is subject to him, but this is not wisdom; that is not in the land of the living -
only one thing in this world, though it be it not, has heard its fame, knows it negatively—"death and destruction," they show that all that is vanity does not sustain an I, and which cannot sustain itself. God ordered all these things; and so far, as to creation, i.e., where man lives, had wisdom as to what does occupy man. But He put man in relationship with Himself; that is more. And the true recognition of this, and the consequent exercise of conscience, that is wisdom for man.
But then will comes in (chap. 29) in connection with self and makes self, alas! its center, though even God be owned. And compare the conscience chapter before God, and self-complacency with and before himself and before men. And how then (chap. 30) pride and contempt of others and occupation with evil with love of self breaks out.