Job 28
1 “Surely there is a source for silver, And a place for the gold they refine;
Surely there is for silver a source, And a place for the gold they refine;
2 Iron is taken from the dust, And bronze [from] the firm stone.
Iron from the dust is taken, And [from] the firm stone brass.
3 He has set an end to darkness, And he is searching to all perfection, A stone of darkness and death-shade.
An end hath he set to darkness, And to all perfection he is searching, A stone of darkness and death-shade.
4 A stream has broken out from a sojourner, Those forgotten of the foot, They were low, they wandered from man.
A stream hath broken out from a sojourner, Those forgotten of the foot, They were low, from man they wandered.
5 The earth! Bread comes forth from it, And its under-part is turned like fire.
The earth! from it cometh forth bread, And its under-part is turned like fire.
6 A place of the sapphire [are] its stones, And it has dust of gold.
A place of the sapphire [are] its stones, And it hath dust of gold.
7 A path—a ravenous bird has not known it, Nor has an eye of the falcon scorched it,
A path — not known it hath a ravenous fowl, Nor scorched it hath an eye of the kite,
8 Nor have the sons of pride trodden it, The fierce lion has not passed over it.
Nor trodden it have the sons of pride, Not passed over it hath the fierce lion.
9 He sent forth his hand against the flint, He overturned mountains from the root.
Against the flint he sent forth his hand, He overturned from the root mountains.
10 Among rocks, he has cleaved brooks, And his eye has seen every precious thing.
Among rocks, brooks he hath cleaved, And every precious thing hath his eye seen.
11 He has bound overflowing rivers, And the hidden thing brings out [to] light.
From overflowing floods he hath bound, And the hidden thing bringeth out [to] light.
12 And the wisdom—from where is it found? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
And the wisdom — whence is it found? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
13 Man has not known its arrangement, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
Man hath not known its arrangement, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 The deep has said, It [is] not in me, And the sea has said, It is not with me.
The deep hath said, 'It [is] not in me,' And the sea hath said, 'It is not with me.'
15 Gold is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed—its price.
Gold is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed — its price.
16 It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, With precious onyx and sapphire,
It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, With precious onyx and sapphire,
17 Gold and crystal do not equal it, Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
Not equal it do gold and crystal, Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
18 Corals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom [is] above rubies.
Corals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom [is] above rubies.
19 The topaz of Cush does not equal it, It is not valued with pure gold.
Not equal it doth the topaz of Cush, With pure gold it is not valued.
20 And the wisdom—from where does it come? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
And the wisdom — whence doth it come? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
21 It has been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the bird of the heavens It has been hidden.
It hath been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the fowl of the heavens It hath been hidden.
22 Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard its fame.
Destruction and death have said: 'With our ears we have heard its fame.'
23 God has understood its way, And He has known its place.
God hath understood its way, And He hath known its place.
24 For He looks to the ends of the earth, He sees under the whole heavens,
For He to the ends of the earth doth look, Under the whole heavens He doth see,
25 To make a weight for the wind, And He meted out the waters in measure.
To make for the wind a weight, And the waters He meted out in measure.
26 In His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices,
In His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices,
27 Then He has seen and declares it, He has prepared it, and also searched it out,
Then He hath seen and declareth it, He hath prepared it, and also searched it out,
28 And He says to man: Behold, fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, And to turn from evil [is] understanding.”
And He saith to man: — 'Lo, fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, And to turn from evil [is] understanding.'
