Job 28
1 For there is a place for the silver, whence it comes, and a place for the gold, whence it is refined.
For truly there is a source for the silver, and a place for the gold which men refine.
2 For iron comes out of the earth, and brass is hewn out like stone.
Iron is taken out of the dust, and the stone is melted into copper.
3 He has set a bound to darkness, and he searches out every limit: a stone [is] darkness, and the shadow of death.
An end doth he set to darkness, and the very utmost limit doth he search out, the stones of darkness, and of the shadow of death.
4 There is a cutting off the torrent by reason of dust: so they that forget the right way are weakened; they are removed from [amongst] men.
He breaketh a channel far from the inhabited place; those of unsteady foot, the poorest of men move [there about].
5 [As for] the earth, out of it shall come bread: under it has been turned up as it were fire.
The earth, out of which cometh forth bread, is under its surface turned up as it were with fire.
6 Her stones are the place of the sapphire: and [her] dust [supplies] man with gold.
Her stones are the place whence the sapphire cometh; and golden dust is also there;
7 [There is] a path, the fowl has not known it, neither has the eye of the vulture seen it:
[On the] path which no bird of prey knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not surveyed;
8 neither have the sons of the proud trodden it, a lion has not passed upon it.
[Which] ravenous beasts have never trodden, over which the lion hath never passed.
9 He has stretched forth his hand on the sharp [rock], and turned up mountains by the roots:
To the flinty rock he stretcheth forth his hand; he overturneth the mountains from the root.
10 and he has interrupted the whirlpools of rivers, and mine eye has seen every precious thing.
Amid rocks he heweth out canals: and every precious thing doth his eye behold.
11 And he has laid bare the depths of rivers, and has brought his power to light.
The various droppings of water he uniteth into streams, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
12 But whence has wisdom been discovered? and what is the place of knowledge?
But wisdom—where shall she he found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 A mortal has not known its way, neither indeed has it been discovered amongst men.
Man knoweth not her value: and she is not to be found in the land of the living.
14 The depth said, It is not in me: and the sea said, It is not with me.
The deep saith, Not in me is she: and the sea saith, She is not with me.
15 One shall not give fine gold instead of it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
No fine gold can be given in lieu of her, and silver cannot be weighed out as her price.
16 Neither shall it be compared with gold of Sophir, with the precious onyx and sapphire.
She cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 Gold and crystal shall not be equalled to it, neither shall vessels of gold be its exchange.
She cannot be estimated after gold and glass; and not in exchange for her [can] vessels of refined gold [be taken.]
18 Coral and fine pearl shall not be mentioned: but do you esteem wisdom above the most precious things.
Coral and crystal will not be thought of; and the value of wisdom is above pearls.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equalled to it; it shall not be compared with pure gold.
She cannot be estimated after the topaz of Ethiopia, nor can she be valued with pure gold.
20 Whence then is wisdom found? and of what kind is the place of understanding?
But wisdom—whence cometh she? and where is the place of understanding?
21 It has escaped the notice of every man, and has been hidden from the birds of the sky.
Yea, she is hidden from the eyes of all living, and from the fowls of the heavens is she concealed.
22 Destruction and Death said, We have heard the report of it.
Perdition and death say, With our ears have we heard a report of her.
23 God has well ordered the way of it, and he knows the place of it.
God [alone] understandeth her way, and he knoweth her place;
24 For he surveys the whole [earth] under heaven, knowing the things in the earth:
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [whatever is] under the whole heaven doth he see.
25 all that he has made; the weight of the winds, the measures of the water.
When he imparted weight unto the wind; and [when] the waters he established by measure;
26 When he made [them], thus he saw and numbered them, and made a way for the pealing of the thunder.
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the lightning of [his] thunders;
27 Then he saw it, and declared it: he prepared it [and] traced it out.
Then did he see her, and make her known; he established her, and also searched her out.
28 And he said to man, Behold, godliness is wisdom: and to abstain from evil is understanding.
And he said unto man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to eschew evil is understanding.
