Job 28
1 Truly there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is washed out.
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;
2 Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone is changed into brass by the fire.
Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.
3 Man puts an end to the dark, searching out to the farthest limit the stones of the deep places of the dark.
[Man] putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.
4 He makes a deep mine far away from those living in the light of day; when they go about on the earth, they have no knowledge of those who are under them, who are hanging far from men, twisting from side to side on a cord.
He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.
5 As for the earth, bread comes out of it; but under its face it is turned up as if by fire.
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;
6 Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.
7 No bird has knowledge of it, and the hawk's eye has never seen it.
It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it;
8 The great beasts have not gone over it, and the cruel lion has not taken that way.
The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it.
9 Man puts out his hand on the hard rock, overturning mountains by the roots.
[Man] putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.
10 He makes deep ways, cut through the rock, and his eye sees everything of value.
He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.
11 He keeps back the streams from flowing, and makes the secret things come out into the light.
He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
12 But where may wisdom be seen? and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Man has not seen the way to it, and it is not in the land of the living.
Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.
14 The deep waters say, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.
The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me.
15 Gold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.
Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.
16 It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.
It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire.
17 Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.
Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.
18 There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.
Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.
20 From where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21 For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.
For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens.
22 Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.
Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears.
23 God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place;
God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:
24 For his eyes go to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under heaven.
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven.
25 When he made a weight for the wind, measuring out the waters;
In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,
26 When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;
In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:
27 Then he saw it, and put it on record; he gave it its fixed form, searching it out completely.
Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out;
28 And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.
And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
