Job 28
1 Siluer hath bigynnyngis of his veynes; and a place is to gold, in which it is wellid togidere.
Truly there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is washed out.
2 Irun is takun fro erthe, and a stoon resolued, `ethir meltid, bi heete, is turned in to money.
Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone is changed into brass by the fire.
3 God hath set tyme to derknessis, and he biholdith the ende of alle thingis.
Man puts an end to the dark, searching out to the farthest limit the stones of the deep places of the dark.
4 Also a stronde departith a stoon of derknesse, and the schadewe of deth, fro the puple goynge in pilgrymage; it departith tho hillis, whiche the foot of a nedi man foryat, and hillis with out weie.
He makes a deep mine far away from those living in the light of day; when they go about on the earth, they have no knowledge of those who are under them, who are hanging far from men, twisting from side to side on a cord.
5 The erthe, wher of breed cam forth in his place, is destried bi fier.
As for the earth, bread comes out of it; but under its face it is turned up as if by fire.
6 The place of saphir ben stoonys therof, and the clottis therof ben gold.
Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
7 A brid knewe not the weie, and the iye of a vultur, ethir rauenouse brid, bihelde it not.
No bird has knowledge of it, and the hawk's eye has never seen it.
8 The sones of marchauntis tretiden not on it, and a lyonesse passide not therbi.
The great beasts have not gone over it, and the cruel lion has not taken that way.
9 God stretchide forth his hond to a flynt; he distriede hillis fro the rootis.
Man puts out his hand on the hard rock, overturning mountains by the roots.
10 He hewide doun ryuers in stoonys; and his iye siy al precious thing.
He makes deep ways, cut through the rock, and his eye sees everything of value.
11 And he souyte out the depthis of floodis; and he brouyte forth hid thingis in to liyt.
He keeps back the streams from flowing, and makes the secret things come out into the light.
12 But where is wisdom foundun, and which is the place of vndurstondyng?
But where may wisdom be seen? and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
13 A man noot the prijs therof, nether it is foundun in the lond of men lyuynge swetli, `ether delicatli.
Man has not seen the way to it, and it is not in the land of the living.
14 The depthe of watris seith, It is not in me; and the see spekith, It is not with me.
The deep waters say, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.
15 Gold ful cleene schal not be youun for wisdom, nether siluer schal be weied in the chaungyng therof.
Gold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.
16 It schal not be comparysound to the died colours of Iynde, not to the moost preciouse stoon of sardius, nether to saphir.
It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.
17 Nether gold, nether glas schal be maad euene worth therto;
Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.
18 and hiye and fer apperynge vessels of gold schulen not be chaungid for wisdom, nether schulen be had in mynde in comparisoun therof. Forsothe wisdom is drawun of pryuy thingis;
There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.
19 topasie of Ethiope schal not be maad euene worth to wisdom, and moost preciouse diyngis schulen not be set togidere in prijs, `ether comparisound, therto.
The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.
20 Therfor wherof cometh wisdom, and which is the place of vndurstondyng?
From where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
21 It is hid fro the iyen of alle lyuynge men; also it is hid fro briddis of heuene.
For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.
22 Perdicioun and deeth seiden, With oure eeris we herden the fame therof.
Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.
23 God vndurstondith the weye therof, and he knowith the place therof.
God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place;
24 For he biholdith the endis of the world, and biholdith alle thingis that ben vndur heuene.
For his eyes go to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under heaven.
25 `Which God made weiyte to wyndis, and weiede watris in mesure.
When he made a weight for the wind, measuring out the waters;
26 Whanne he settide lawe to reyn, and weie to tempestis sownynge;
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;
27 thanne he siy wisdom, and telde out, and made redi, and souyte out.
Then he saw it, and put it on record; he gave it its fixed form, searching it out completely.
28 And he seide to man, Lo! the drede of the Lord, thilke is wisdom; and to go awei fro yuel, is vndurstondyng.
And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.
