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