Job 28
1 “It is true that there are places where men dig to find silver, and there are places where people refine/purify gold [that they have dug].
Truly there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is washed out.
2 People dig iron [ore] out of the ground, and they (smelt copper ore/heat copper ore to get the copper from it).
Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone is changed into brass by the fire.
3 Men use lamps while they work far down under the ground to search for the ore inside the mines where it is very dark.
Man puts an end to the dark, searching out to the farthest limit the stones of the deep places of the dark.
4 They dig (shafts/narrow holes very deep down into the ground) in places that are far from where people live, where travelers do not go. They work far away from [other] people, swinging back and forth on ropes [as they descend into the mine shafts].
He makes a deep mine far away from those living in the light of day; when they go about on the earth, they have no knowledge of those who are under them, who are hanging far from men, twisting from side to side on a cord.
5 Food grows on the surface of the ground, but down under the ground, [where there is no food,] the miners make fires to break apart the rocks.
As for the earth, bread comes out of it; but under its face it is turned up as if by fire.
6 The stones [that are dug from under the ground] contain (sapphires/very valuable blue stones), and the dirt contains bits of gold.
Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
7 [Some birds have very good eyes,] but even hawks do not know [where the mines are], and falcons/vultures have not seen those places.
No bird has knowledge of it, and the hawk's eye has never seen it.
8 Lions or [other] proud wild animals have not walked on the roads near those mines.
The great beasts have not gone over it, and the cruel lion has not taken that way.
9 Miners tear apart [MTY] very hard rock; [it is as though] they turn the mountains upside down [to get the ore].
Man puts out his hand on the hard rock, overturning mountains by the roots.
10 They cut tunnels through the rocks, and they find (precious/very valuable) things.
He makes deep ways, cut through the rock, and his eye sees everything of value.
11 They dam up small streams in order that water does not flow, and they bring up into the light valuable things that are hidden [in the ground and in the streams].
He keeps back the streams from flowing, and makes the secret things come out into the light.
12 “But wisdom: Where can people find that? Where can we find out how to truly understand things?
But where may wisdom be seen? and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
13 Humans do not know where to find it; no one can find it [here on this earth] where they are living.
Man has not seen the way to it, and it is not in the land of the living.
14 [It is as though] water that is deep [inside the earth] and [water that is in] the seas say [PRS], ‘Wisdom is not here!’
The deep waters say, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.
15 [People] cannot buy wisdom by paying for it with silver or gold.
Gold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.
16 Wisdom is worth much more than fine gold from Ophir [land] or other very valuable stones.
It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.
17 It is worth much more than gold or beautiful glass, worth more than vases made from fine gold.
Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.
18 Wisdom is worth more than coral or crystal/pure quartz; the price of wisdom is higher/more than the price of pearls.
There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.
19 The prices of (topaz/very valuable yellow stones) from Ethiopia and of pure gold are lower/less than the price of wisdom.
The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.
20 “So, where does wisdom come from? Where can we find out how to truly understand things?
From where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
21 No living humans can see it [MTY]; and birds cannot see it while they are flying [MTY].
For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.
22 [It is as though] the places where people go after they die say [PRS], ‘We have only heard rumors about [where to find wisdom].’
Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.
23 God [is the only one who] knows how to find wisdom; he knows where it is,
God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place;
24 because he can see things even in the most remote/distant places on the earth; he can see everything that is below the sky.
For his eyes go to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under heaven.
25 When he decided how strongly the winds should blow, and how much rain would be in the clouds,
When he made a weight for the wind, measuring out the waters;
26 and when he decided where rain [should fall], and what path lightning should take [from the clouds down to the ground],
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;
27 at that time he saw wisdom and decided that it is extremely valuable. He examined it and (approved it/said that it was very good).
Then he saw it, and put it on record; he gave it its fixed form, searching it out completely.
28 And [then] he said to humans, ‘Listen! To have an awesome respect for me is [what will enable you to become] wise; and to truly understand everything, you must first turn away from doing what is evil.’”
And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.
