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 hominum 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 igne subversa est
The earth, out of which cometh forth bread, is under its surface turned up as it were with fire.
6 locus sapphyri 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 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 produxit in lucem
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 intellegentiae
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 adpendetur 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 sardonico pretiosissimo vel sapphyro
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 conparatione 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 topazium de Aethiopia nec tincturae mundissimae conponetur
She cannot be estimated after the topaz of Ethiopia, nor can she be valued with pure gold.
20 unde ergo sapientia veniet et quis est locus intellegentiae
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 intellegit 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 adpendit 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 intellegentia
And he said unto man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to eschew evil is understanding.
