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].
Surely there is for silver a source, And a place for the gold they refine;
2 People dig iron [ore] out of the ground, and they (smelt copper ore/heat copper ore to get the copper from it).
Iron from the dust is taken, And [from] the firm stone 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.
An end hath he set to darkness, And to all perfection he is searching, A stone of darkness and death-shade.
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].
A stream hath broken out from a sojourner, Those forgotten of the foot, They were low, from man they wandered.
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 earth! from it cometh forth bread, And its under-part is turned like fire.
6 The stones [that are dug from under the ground] contain (sapphires/very valuable blue stones), and the dirt contains bits of gold.
A place of the sapphire [are] its stones, And it hath dust of 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.
A path — not known it hath a ravenous fowl, Nor scorched it hath an eye of the kite,
8 Lions or [other] proud wild animals have not walked on the roads near those mines.
Nor trodden it have the sons of pride, Not passed over it hath the fierce lion.
9 Miners tear apart [MTY] very hard rock; [it is as though] they turn the mountains upside down [to get the ore].
Against the flint he sent forth his hand, He overturned from the root mountains.
10 They cut tunnels through the rocks, and they find (precious/very valuable) things.
Among rocks, brooks he hath cleaved, And every precious thing hath his eye seen.
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].
From overflowing floods he hath bound, And the hidden thing bringeth out [to] light.
12 “But wisdom: Where can people find that? Where can we find out how to truly understand things?
And the wisdom — whence is it found? And where [is] this, 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 hath not known its arrangement, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
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 deep hath said, 'It [is] not in me,' And the sea hath said, 'It is not with me.'
15 [People] cannot buy wisdom by paying for it with silver or gold.
Gold is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed — its price.
16 Wisdom is worth much more than fine gold from Ophir [land] or other very valuable stones.
It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, With precious onyx and sapphire,
17 It is worth much more than gold or beautiful glass, worth more than vases made from fine gold.
Not equal it do gold and crystal, Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
18 Wisdom is worth more than coral or crystal/pure quartz; the price of wisdom is higher/more than the price of pearls.
Corals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom [is] above rubies.
19 The prices of (topaz/very valuable yellow stones) from Ethiopia and of pure gold are lower/less than the price of wisdom.
Not equal it doth the topaz of Cush, With pure gold it is not valued.
20 “So, where does wisdom come from? Where can we find out how to truly understand things?
And the wisdom — whence doth it come? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
21 No living humans can see it [MTY]; and birds cannot see it while they are flying [MTY].
It hath been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the fowl of the heavens It hath been hidden.
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].’
Destruction 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 hath understood its way, And He hath known its place.
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 to the ends of the earth doth look, Under the whole heavens He doth see,
25 When he decided how strongly the winds should blow, and how much rain would be in the clouds,
To make for the wind a weight, And the waters He meted out in measure.
26 and when he decided where rain [should fall], and what path lightning should take [from the clouds down to the ground],
In His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices,
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 hath seen and declareth it, He hath prepared it, and also searched it out,
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 saith to man: — 'Lo, fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, And to turn from evil [is] understanding.'
