約伯記 28
1 銀子有礦； 煉金有方。
There are silver mines and places where gold is refined.
2 鐵從地裏挖出； 銅從石中鎔化。
Iron is extracted from the earth and copper is smelted from its ore.
3 人為黑暗定界限， 查究幽暗陰翳的石頭，直到極處，
Miners take lamps into the darkness underground and search for ore as far as they can go in the shadows and the gloom.
4 在無人居住之處刨開礦穴， 過路的人也想不到他們； 又與人遠離，懸在空中搖來搖去。
They dig a mineshaft far from where people live or anyone ever goes. They swing from ropes that hang in the pits.
5 至於地，能出糧食， 地內好像被火翻起來。
Bread comes from the earth, but underneath it looks as if it has been turned upside-down by fire.
6 地中的石頭有藍寶石， 並有金沙。
Here the rocks contain lapis lazuli and the dust contains gold.
7 礦中的路鷙鳥不得知道； 鷹眼也未見過。
No birds of prey can see these paths, no falcon's eye can perceive.
8 狂傲的野獸未曾行過； 猛烈的獅子也未曾經過。
No wild beasts have passed that way; the lion has not walked there.
9 人伸手鑿開堅石， 傾倒山根，
Miners attack the hard rock; they overturn the roots of mountains.
10 在磐石中鑿出水道， 親眼看見各樣寶物。
They tunnel through the rock, looking carefully for every precious stone.
11 他封閉水不得滴流， 使隱藏的物顯露出來。
They dam the sources of the rivers, and bring to light what is hidden.
12 然而，智慧有何處可尋？ 聰明之處在哪裏呢？
But where can wisdom be found? Where is the place to gain understanding?
13 智慧的價值無人能知， 在活人之地也無處可尋。
Human beings do not know the way to wisdom; it is not found among the living.
14 深淵說：不在我內； 滄海說：不在我中。
The deep waters say, ‘It's not here,’ and the sea says, ‘It's not here either.’
15 智慧非用黃金可得， 也不能平白銀為它的價值。
It cannot be bought with gold; nor can it be purchased with silver.
16 俄斐金和貴重的紅瑪瑙， 並藍寶石，不足與較量；
Its value cannot be measured, even with the gold of Ophir; it is more precious than onyx or lapis lazuli.
17 黃金和玻璃不足與比較； 精金的器皿不足與兌換。
Gold or fine glass cannot compare with wisdom; it cannot be exchanged for gold jewelry.
18 珊瑚、水晶都不足論； 智慧的價值勝過珍珠。
Coral and crystal are not worth mentioning; the price of wisdom is far above rubies.
19 古實的紅璧璽不足與比較； 精金也不足與較量。
Topaz from Ethiopia can't compare with it; it cannot be bought with the purest gold.
20 智慧從何處來呢？ 聰明之處在哪裏呢？
So where does wisdom come from? Where is the place to gain understanding?
21 是向一切有生命的眼目隱藏， 向空中的飛鳥掩蔽。
Wisdom is hidden from the sight of all living things, even the birds of the air cannot see it.
22 滅沒和死亡說： 我們風聞其名。
Abaddon and Death say, ‘We've only heard a rumor of it.’
23 上帝明白智慧的道路， 曉得智慧的所在。
Only God understands the path to wisdom; he knows where it is found.
24 因他鑒察直到地極， 遍觀普天之下，
For he looks to the very end of the earth; he sees everything under heaven.
25 要為風定輕重， 又度量諸水；
He decided how strong the wind should blow, and regulated the waters.
26 他為雨露定命令， 為雷電定道路。
He set a limit for the rain and made a path for the lightning.
27 那時他看見智慧，而且述說； 他堅定，並且查究。
Then he considered wisdom. He examined it, gave it his approval, and declared it good.
28 他對人說：敬畏主就是智慧； 遠離惡便是聰明。
He said to humankind, ‘To reverence the Lord is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
