Job 28
1 “It is true that there are places where men dig to find silver, and there are places where people refine/purify gold [that they have dug].
Silver has its fissures where it is first found, and gold has a place where it is melted.
2 People dig iron [ore] out of the ground, and they (smelt copper ore/heat copper ore to get the copper from it).
Iron is taken from the earth, and ore, unbound by heat, is turned into brass.
3 Men use lamps while they work far down under the ground to search for the ore inside the mines where it is very dark.
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 They dig (shafts/narrow holes very deep down into the ground) in places that are far from where people live, where travelers do not go. They work far away from [other] people, swinging back and forth on ropes [as they descend into the mine shafts].
The burning separates a pilgrim people from those who have been forgotten by the feet of the destitute man and from the unapproachable.
5 Food grows on the surface of the ground, but down under the ground, [where there is no food, ] the miners make fires to break apart the rocks.
The land, where bread appeared in its place, has been destroyed by fire.
6 The stones [that are dug from under the ground] contain (sapphires/very valuable blue stones), and the dirt contains bits of gold.
Its stones are embedded with sapphires, and its soil, with gold.
7 [Some birds have very good eyes, ] but even hawks do not know [where the mines are], and falcons/vultures have not seen those places.
The bird does not know its path, nor has the eye of the vulture beheld it.
8 Lions or [other] proud wild animals have not walked on the roads near those mines.
The sons of merchants have not walked there, nor has the lioness traveled through it.
9 Miners tear apart [MTY] very hard rock; [it is as though] they turn the mountains upside down [to get the ore].
He has stretched out his hand to the rocks; he has overturned the foundations of the mountains.
10 They cut tunnels through the rocks, and they find (precious/very valuable) things.
He has cut rivers through the rocks, and his eye has seen all precious things.
11 They dam up small streams in order that water does not flow, and they bring up into the light valuable things that are hidden [in the ground and in the streams].
The depths of rivers he has also examined, and he has brought hidden things into the light.
12 “But wisdom: Where can people find that? Where can we find out how to truly understand things?
But, in truth, where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?
13 Humans do not know where to find it; no one can find it [here on this earth] where they are living.
Man does not know its price, nor is it found in the land of those who live in sweetness.
14 [It is as though] water that is deep [inside the earth] and [water that is in] the seas say [PRS], ‘Wisdom is not here!’
The abyss declares, “It is not in me.” And the sea says, “It is not with me.”
15 [People] cannot buy wisdom by paying for it with silver or gold.
The finest gold will not be paid for it, nor will silver be weighed in exchange for it.
16 Wisdom is worth much more than fine gold from Ophir [land] or other very valuable stones.
It will not be compared with the dyed colors of India, nor with the very costly stone sardonyx, nor with the sapphire.
17 It is worth much more than gold or beautiful glass, worth more than vases made from fine gold.
Neither gold nor crystal will be its equal; neither will vessels of gold be fitted for it.
18 Wisdom is worth more than coral or crystal/pure quartz; the price of wisdom is higher/more than the price of pearls.
The exalted and the eminent will not be remembered in comparison with it. Yet wisdom is drawn out of concealment.
19 The prices of (topaz/very valuable yellow stones) from Ethiopia and of pure gold are lower/less than the price of wisdom.
The topaz of Ethiopia will not be equal to it, nor will it be compared to the purest dyes.
20 “So, where does wisdom come from? Where can we find out how to truly understand things?
So then, where does wisdom begin, and where is the place of understanding?
21 No living humans can see it [MTY]; and birds cannot see it while they are flying [MTY].
It has been hidden from the eyes of all living things, just as the birds of the heavens escape notice.
22 [It is as though] the places where people go after they die say [PRS], ‘We have only heard rumors about [where to find wisdom].’
Perdition and death have said, “With our ears, we have heard its fame.”
23 God [is the only one who] knows how to find wisdom; he knows where it is,
God understands its way, and he knows its location.
24 because he can see things even in the most remote/distant places on the earth; he can see everything that is below the sky.
For he beholds the limits of the world, and he looks upon all things that are under heaven.
25 When he decided how strongly the winds should blow, and how much rain would be in the clouds,
He created a counterweight for the winds, and he suspended the waters to measure them.
26 and when he decided where rain [should fall], and what path lightning should take [from the clouds down to the ground],
At that time, he gave a law to the rain and a path to the resounding storms.
27 at that time he saw wisdom and decided that it is extremely valuable. He examined it and (approved it/said that it was very good).
Then he saw and explained it, and he made ready and examined it.
28 And [then] he said to humans, ‘Listen! To have an awesome respect for me is [what will enable you to become] wise; and to truly understand everything, you must first turn away from doing what is evil.’”
And he said to man, “Behold the fear of the Lord. Such is wisdom. And to withdraw from evil, this is understanding.”
