Job 28
- 1
“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. Begin Abide·
- 2
Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore. Begin Abide·
- 3
Man puts an end to the darkness; he probes the farthest recesses for ore in deepest darkness. Begin Abide·
- 4
Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft in places forgotten by the foot of man. Far from men he dangles and sways. Begin Abide·
- 5
Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire. Begin Abide·
- 6
Its rocks are the source of sapphires, containing flecks of gold. Begin Abide·
- 7
No bird of prey knows that path; no falcon’s eye has seen it. Begin Abide·
- 8
Proud beasts have never trodden it; no lion has ever prowled over it. Begin Abide·
- 9
The miner strikes the flint; he overturns mountains at their base. Begin Abide·
- 10
He hews out channels in the rocks, and his eyes spot every treasure. Begin Abide·
- 11
He stops up the sources of the streams to bring what is hidden to light. Begin Abide·
- 12
But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell? Begin Abide·
- 13
No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. Begin Abide·
- 14
The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’ Begin Abide·
- 15
It cannot be bought with gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver. Begin Abide·
- 16
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Begin Abide·
- 17
Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it. Begin Abide·
- 18
Coral and quartz are unworthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. Begin Abide·
- 19
Topaz from Cush cannot compare to it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. Begin Abide·
- 20
From where, then, does wisdom come, and where does understanding dwell? Begin Abide·
- 21
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air. Begin Abide·
- 22
Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor about it.’ Begin Abide·
- 23
But God understands its way, and He knows its place. Begin Abide·
- 24
For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. Begin Abide·
- 25
When God fixed the weight of the wind and measured out the waters, Begin Abide·
- 26
when He set a limit for the rain and a path for the thunderbolt, Begin Abide·
- 27
then He looked at wisdom and appraised it; He established it and searched it out. Begin Abide·
- 28
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” Begin Abide·