Job 28
1 For truly there is a source for the silver, and a place for the gold which men refine.
[Habet argentum venarum suarum principia, et auro locus est in quo conflatur.
2 Iron is taken out of the dust, and the stone is melted into copper.
Ferrum de terra tollitur, et lapis solutus calore in æs vertitur.
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.
Tempus posuit tenebris, et universorum finem ipse considerat: lapidem quoque caliginis et umbram mortis.
4 He breaketh a channel far from the inhabited place; those of unsteady foot, the poorest of men move [there about].
Dividit torrens a populo peregrinante eos quos oblitus est pes egentis hominis, et invios.
5 The earth, out of which cometh forth bread, is under its surface turned up as it were with fire.
Terra de qua oriebatur panis, in loco suo igni subversa est.
6 Her stones are the place whence the sapphire cometh; and golden dust is also there;
Locus sapphiri lapides ejus, et glebæ illius aurum.
7 [On the] path which no bird of prey knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not surveyed;
Semitam ignoravit avis, nec intuitus est eam oculus vulturis.
8 [Which] ravenous beasts have never trodden, over which the lion hath never passed.
Non calcaverunt eam filii institorum, nec pertransivit per eam leæna.
9 To the flinty rock he stretcheth forth his hand; he overturneth the mountains from the root.
Ad silicem extendit manum suam: subvertit a radicibus montes.
10 Amid rocks he heweth out canals: and every precious thing doth his eye behold.
In petris rivos excidit, et omne pretiosum vidit oculus ejus.
11 The various droppings of water he uniteth into streams, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
Profunda quoque fluviorum scrutatus est, et abscondita in lucem produxit.
12 But wisdom—where shall she he found? and where is the place of understanding?
Sapientia vero ubi invenitur? et quis est locus intelligentiæ?
13 Man knoweth not her value: and she is not to be found in the land of the living.
Nescit homo pretium ejus, nec invenitur in terra suaviter viventium.
14 The deep saith, Not in me is she: and the sea saith, She is not with me.
Abyssus dicit: Non est in me, et mare loquitur: Non est mecum.
15 No fine gold can be given in lieu of her, and silver cannot be weighed out as her price.
Non dabitur aurum obrizum pro ea, nec appendetur argentum in commutatione ejus.
16 She cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
Non conferetur tinctis Indiæ coloribus, nec lapidi sardonycho pretiosissimo vel sapphiro.
17 She cannot be estimated after gold and glass; and not in exchange for her [can] vessels of refined gold [be taken.]
Non adæquabitur ei aurum vel vitrum, nec commutabuntur pro ea vasa auri.
18 Coral and crystal will not be thought of; and the value of wisdom is above pearls.
Excelsa et eminentia non memorabuntur comparatione ejus: trahitur autem sapientia de occultis.
19 She cannot be estimated after the topaz of Ethiopia, nor can she be valued with pure gold.
Non adæquabitur ei topazius de Æthiopia, nec tincturæ mundissimæ componetur.
20 But wisdom—whence cometh she? and where is the place of understanding?
Unde ergo sapientia venit? et quis est locus intelligentiæ?
21 Yea, she is hidden from the eyes of all living, and from the fowls of the heavens is she concealed.
Abscondita est ab oculis omnium viventium: volucres quoque cæli latet.
22 Perdition and death say, With our ears have we heard a report of her.
Perditio et mors dixerunt: Auribus nostris audivimus famam ejus.
23 God [alone] understandeth her way, and he knoweth her place;
Deus intelligit viam ejus, et ipse novit locum illius.
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [whatever is] under the whole heaven doth he see.
Ipse enim fines mundi intuetur, et omnia quæ sub cælo sunt respicit.
25 When he imparted weight unto the wind; and [when] the waters he established by measure;
Qui fecit ventis pondus, et aquas appendit in mensura.
26 When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the lightning of [his] thunders;
Quando ponebat pluviis legem, et viam procellis sonantibus:
27 Then did he see her, and make her known; he established her, and also searched her out.
tunc vidit illam et enarravit, et præparavit, et investigavit.
28 And he said unto man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to eschew evil is understanding.
Et dixit homini: Ecce timor Domini, ipsa est sapientia; et recedere a malo, intelligentia.]
