Job 28
1 habet argentum venarum suarum principia et auro locus est in quo conflatur
There are silver mines and places where gold is refined.
2 ferrum de terra tollitur et lapis solutus calore in aes vertitur
Iron is extracted from the earth and copper is smelted from its ore.
3 tempus posuit tenebris et universorum finem ipse considerat lapidem quoque caliginis et umbram mortis
Miners take lamps into the darkness underground and search for ore as far as they can go in the shadows and the gloom.
4 dividit torrens a populo peregrinante eos quos oblitus est pes egentis hominum et invios
They dig a mineshaft far from where people live or anyone ever goes. They swing from ropes that hang in the pits.
5 terra de qua oriebatur panis in loco suo igne subversa est
Bread comes from the earth, but underneath it looks as if it has been turned upside-down by fire.
6 locus sapphyri lapides eius et glebae illius aurum
Here the rocks contain lapis lazuli and the dust contains gold.
7 semitam ignoravit avis nec intuitus est oculus vulturis
No birds of prey can see these paths, no falcon's eye can perceive.
8 non calcaverunt eam filii institorum nec pertransivit per eam leaena
No wild beasts have passed that way; the lion has not walked there.
9 ad silicem extendit manum suam subvertit a radicibus montes
Miners attack the hard rock; they overturn the roots of mountains.
10 in petris rivos excidit et omne pretiosum vidit oculus eius
They tunnel through the rock, looking carefully for every precious stone.
11 profunda quoque fluviorum scrutatus est et abscondita produxit in lucem
They dam the sources of the rivers, and bring to light what is hidden.
12 sapientia vero ubi invenitur et quis est locus intellegentiae
But where can wisdom be found? Where is the place to gain understanding?
13 nescit homo pretium eius nec invenitur in terra suaviter viventium
Human beings do not know the way to wisdom; it is not found among the living.
14 abyssus dicit non est in me et mare loquitur non est mecum
The deep waters say, ‘It's not here,’ and the sea says, ‘It's not here either.’
15 non dabitur aurum obrizum pro ea nec adpendetur argentum in commutatione eius
It cannot be bought with gold; nor can it be purchased with silver.
16 non conferetur tinctis Indiae coloribus nec lapidi sardonico pretiosissimo vel sapphyro
Its value cannot be measured, even with the gold of Ophir; it is more precious than onyx or lapis lazuli.
17 non adaequabitur ei aurum vel vitrum nec commutabuntur pro ea vasa auri
Gold or fine glass cannot compare with wisdom; it cannot be exchanged for gold jewelry.
18 excelsa et eminentia non memorabuntur conparatione eius trahitur autem sapientia de occultis
Coral and crystal are not worth mentioning; the price of wisdom is far above rubies.
19 non adaequabitur ei topazium de Aethiopia nec tincturae mundissimae conponetur
Topaz from Ethiopia can't compare with it; it cannot be bought with the purest gold.
20 unde ergo sapientia veniet et quis est locus intellegentiae
So where does wisdom come from? Where is the place to gain understanding?
21 abscondita est ab oculis omnium viventium volucres quoque caeli latet
Wisdom is hidden from the sight of all living things, even the birds of the air cannot see it.
22 perditio et mors dixerunt auribus nostris audivimus famam eius
Abaddon and Death say, ‘We've only heard a rumor of it.’
23 Deus intellegit viam eius et ipse novit locum illius
Only God understands the path to wisdom; he knows where it is found.
24 ipse enim fines mundi intuetur et omnia quae sub caelo sunt respicit
For he looks to the very end of the earth; he sees everything under heaven.
25 qui fecit ventis pondus et aquas adpendit mensura
He decided how strong the wind should blow, and regulated the waters.
26 quando ponebat pluviis legem et viam procellis sonantibus
He set a limit for the rain and made a path for the lightning.
27 tunc vidit illam et enarravit et praeparavit et investigavit
Then he considered wisdom. He examined it, gave it his approval, and declared it good.
28 et dixit homini ecce timor Domini ipsa est sapientia et recedere a malo intellegentia
He said to humankind, ‘To reverence the Lord is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
