Job 28
1 For truly there is a source for the silver, and a place for the gold which men refine.
Silver has its fissures where it is first found, and gold has a place where it is melted.
2 Iron is taken out of the dust, and the stone is melted into copper.
Iron is taken from the earth, and ore, unbound by heat, is turned into brass.
3 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.
He has established a time for darkness, and he has settled on an end for all things, as well as for the stone that is in the gloom and shadow of death.
4 He breaketh a channel far from the inhabited place; those of unsteady foot, the poorest of men move [there about].
The burning separates a pilgrim people from those who have been forgotten by the feet of the destitute man and from the unapproachable.
5 The earth, out of which cometh forth bread, is under its surface turned up as it were with fire.
The land, where bread appeared in its place, has been destroyed by fire.
6 Her stones are the place whence the sapphire cometh; and golden dust is also there;
Its stones are embedded with sapphires, and its soil, with gold.
7 [On the] path which no bird of prey knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not surveyed;
The bird does not know its path, nor has the eye of the vulture beheld it.
8 [Which] ravenous beasts have never trodden, over which the lion hath never passed.
The sons of merchants have not walked there, nor has the lioness traveled through it.
9 To the flinty rock he stretcheth forth his hand; he overturneth the mountains from the root.
He has stretched out his hand to the rocks; he has overturned the foundations of the mountains.
10 Amid rocks he heweth out canals: and every precious thing doth his eye behold.
He has cut rivers through the rocks, and his eye has seen all precious things.
11 The various droppings of water he uniteth into streams, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
The depths of rivers he has also examined, and he has brought hidden things into the light.
12 But wisdom—where shall she he found? and where is the place of understanding?
But, in truth, where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?
13 Man knoweth not her value: and she is not to be found in the land of the living.
Man does not know its price, nor is it found in the land of those who live in sweetness.
14 The deep saith, Not in me is she: and the sea saith, She is not with me.
The abyss declares, “It is not in me.” And the sea says, “It is not with me.”
15 No fine gold can be given in lieu of her, and silver cannot be weighed out as her price.
The finest gold will not be paid for it, nor will silver be weighed in exchange for it.
16 She cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
It will not be compared with the dyed colors of India, nor with the very costly stone sardonyx, nor with the sapphire.
17 She cannot be estimated after gold and glass; and not in exchange for her [can] vessels of refined gold [be taken.]
Neither gold nor crystal will be its equal; neither will vessels of gold be fitted for it.
18 Coral and crystal will not be thought of; and the value of wisdom is above pearls.
The exalted and the eminent will not be remembered in comparison with it. Yet wisdom is drawn out of concealment.
19 She cannot be estimated after the topaz of Ethiopia, nor can she be valued with pure gold.
The topaz of Ethiopia will not be equal to it, nor will it be compared to the purest dyes.
20 But wisdom—whence cometh she? and where is the place of understanding?
So then, where does wisdom begin, and where is the place of understanding?
21 Yea, she is hidden from the eyes of all living, and from the fowls of the heavens is she concealed.
It has been hidden from the eyes of all living things, just as the birds of the heavens escape notice.
22 Perdition and death say, With our ears have we heard a report of her.
Perdition and death have said, “With our ears, we have heard its fame.”
23 God [alone] understandeth her way, and he knoweth her place;
God understands its way, and he knows its location.
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [whatever is] under the whole heaven doth he see.
For he beholds the limits of the world, and he looks upon all things that are under heaven.
25 When he imparted weight unto the wind; and [when] the waters he established by measure;
He created a counterweight for the winds, and he suspended the waters to measure them.
26 When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the lightning of [his] thunders;
At that time, he gave a law to the rain and a path to the resounding storms.
27 Then did he see her, and make her known; he established her, and also searched her out.
Then he saw and explained it, and he made ready and examined it.
28 And he said unto man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to eschew evil is understanding.
And he said to man, “Behold the fear of the Lord. Such is wisdom. And to withdraw from evil, this is understanding.”
