Job 28
1 Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;
[Habet argentum venarum suarum principia, et auro locus est in quo conflatur.
2 Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.
Ferrum de terra tollitur, et lapis solutus calore in æs vertitur.
3 [Man] putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.
Tempus posuit tenebris, et universorum finem ipse considerat: lapidem quoque caliginis et umbram mortis.
4 He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.
Dividit torrens a populo peregrinante eos quos oblitus est pes egentis hominis, et invios.
5 As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;
Terra de qua oriebatur panis, in loco suo igni subversa est.
6 The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.
Locus sapphiri lapides ejus, et glebæ illius aurum.
7 It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it;
Semitam ignoravit avis, nec intuitus est eam oculus vulturis.
8 The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it.
Non calcaverunt eam filii institorum, nec pertransivit per eam leæna.
9 [Man] putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.
Ad silicem extendit manum suam: subvertit a radicibus montes.
10 He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.
In petris rivos excidit, et omne pretiosum vidit oculus ejus.
11 He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
Profunda quoque fluviorum scrutatus est, et abscondita in lucem produxit.
12 But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding?
Sapientia vero ubi invenitur? et quis est locus intelligentiæ?
13 Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.
Nescit homo pretium ejus, nec invenitur in terra suaviter viventium.
14 The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me.
Abyssus dicit: Non est in me, et mare loquitur: Non est mecum.
15 Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.
Non dabitur aurum obrizum pro ea, nec appendetur argentum in commutatione ejus.
16 It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire.
Non conferetur tinctis Indiæ coloribus, nec lapidi sardonycho pretiosissimo vel sapphiro.
17 Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.
Non adæquabitur ei aurum vel vitrum, nec commutabuntur pro ea vasa auri.
18 Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.
Excelsa et eminentia non memorabuntur comparatione ejus: trahitur autem sapientia de occultis.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.
Non adæquabitur ei topazius de Æthiopia, nec tincturæ mundissimæ componetur.
20 Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
Unde ergo sapientia venit? et quis est locus intelligentiæ?
21 For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens.
Abscondita est ab oculis omnium viventium: volucres quoque cæli latet.
22 Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears.
Perditio et mors dixerunt: Auribus nostris audivimus famam ejus.
23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:
Deus intelligit viam ejus, et ipse novit locum illius.
24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven.
Ipse enim fines mundi intuetur, et omnia quæ sub cælo sunt respicit.
25 In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,
Qui fecit ventis pondus, et aquas appendit in mensura.
26 In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:
Quando ponebat pluviis legem, et viam procellis sonantibus:
27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out;
tunc vidit illam et enarravit, et præparavit, et investigavit.
28 And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Et dixit homini: Ecce timor Domini, ipsa est sapientia; et recedere a malo, intelligentia.]
