ヨブ 記 28

1 白銀掘いだす坑あり 煉るところの黄金は出處あり

Silver has its fissures where it is first found, and gold has a place where it is melted.

2 鐡は土より取り 銅は石より鎔して獲るなり

Iron is taken from the earth, and ore, unbound by heat, is turned into brass.

3 人すなはち黑暗を破り極より極まで尋ね窮めて黑暗および死蔭の石を求む

He has established a time for darkness, and he has settled on an end for all things, as well as for the stone that is in the gloom and shadow of death.

4 その穴を穿つこと深くして上に住む人と遠く相離れ その上を歩む者まつたく之を覺えず 是のごとく身を縋下げ 遙に人と隔りて空に懸る

The burning separates a pilgrim people from those who have been forgotten by the feet of the destitute man and from the unapproachable.

5 地その上は食物を出し 其下は火に覆へさるるがごとく覆へる

The land, where bread appeared in its place, has been destroyed by fire.

6 その石の中には碧の玉のある處あり 黄金の沙またその内にあり

Its stones are embedded with sapphires, and its soil, with gold.

7 その逕は鷙鳥もこれを知ず 鷹の目もこれを看ず

The bird does not know its path, nor has the eye of the vulture beheld it.

8 鷙き獸も未だこれを踐ず 猛き獅子も未だこれを通らず

The sons of merchants have not walked there, nor has the lioness traveled through it.

9 人堅き磐に手を加へまた山を根より倒し

He has stretched out his hand to the rocks; he has overturned the foundations of the mountains.

10 岩に河を掘り各種の貴き物を目に見とめ

He has cut rivers through the rocks, and his eye has seen all precious things.

11 水路を塞ぎて漏ざらしめ隱れたる寳物を光明に取いだすなり

The depths of rivers he has also examined, and he has brought hidden things into the light.

12 然ながら智慧は何處よりか覓め得ん 明哲の在る所は何處ぞや

But, in truth, where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?

13 人その價を知ず人のすめる地に獲べからず

Man does not know its price, nor is it found in the land of those who live in sweetness.

14 淵は言ふ我の内に在ずと 海は言ふ我と偕ならずと

The abyss declares, “It is not in me.” And the sea says, “It is not with me.”

15 精金も之に換るに足ず 銀も秤りてその價となすを得ず

The finest gold will not be paid for it, nor will silver be weighed in exchange for it.

16 オフルの金にてもその價を量るべからず 貴き靑玉も碧玉もまた然り

It will not be compared with the dyed colors of India, nor with the very costly stone sardonyx, nor with the sapphire.

17 黄金も玻璃もこれに並ぶ能はず 精金の器皿も之に換るに足ず

Neither gold nor crystal will be its equal; neither will vessels of gold be fitted for it.

18 珊瑚も水晶も論にたらず 智慧を得るは眞珠を得るに勝る

The exalted and the eminent will not be remembered in comparison with it. Yet wisdom is drawn out of concealment.

19 エテオビアより出る黄玉もこれに並ぶあたはず 純金をもてするともその價を量るべからず

The topaz of Ethiopia will not be equal to it, nor will it be compared to the purest dyes.

20 然ば智慧は何處より來るや 明哲の在る所は何處ぞや

So then, where does wisdom begin, and where is the place of understanding?

21 是は一切の生物の目に隱れ 天空の鳥にも見えず

It has been hidden from the eyes of all living things, just as the birds of the heavens escape notice.

22 滅亡も死も言ふ 我等はその風聲を耳に聞し而已

Perdition and death have said, “With our ears, we have heard its fame.”

23 神その道を曉り給ふ 彼その所を知りたまふ

God understands its way, and he knows its location.

24 そは彼は地の極までも觀そなはし天が下を看きはめたまへばなり

For he beholds the limits of the world, and he looks upon all things that are under heaven.

25 風にその重量を與へ 水を度りてその量を定めたまひし時

He created a counterweight for the winds, and he suspended the waters to measure them.

26 雨のために法を立て 雷霆の光のために途を設けたまひし時

At that time, he gave a law to the rain and a path to the resounding storms.

27 智慧を見て之を顯はし之を立て試みたまへり

Then he saw and explained it, and he made ready and examined it.

28 また人に言たまはく視よ主を畏るるは是智慧なり 惡を離るるは明哲なり

And he said to man, “Behold the fear of the Lord. Such is wisdom. And to withdraw from evil, this is understanding.”