1There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.2Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.3Mortals put an end to the darkness; they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.4Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft, in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway.5The earth, from which food comes, is transformed below as by fire;6lapis lazuli comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.7No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.8Proud beasts do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.9People assault the flinty rock with their hands and lay bare the roots of the mountains.10They tunnel through the rock; their eyes see all its treasures.11They search[1] the sources of the rivers and bring hidden things to light.12But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?13No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.14The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’15It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.16It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.17Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold.18Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.19The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.20Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?21It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.22Destruction[2] and Death say, ‘Only a rumour of it has reached our ears.’23God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,24for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.25When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,26when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,27then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.28And he said to the human race, ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.’
Job 28
English Standard Version
Job Continues: Where Is Wisdom?
1“Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold that they refine. (Mal 3:3)2Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from the ore.3Man puts an end to darkness and searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness. (Job 3:5; Job 10:22)4He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; they are forgotten by travelers; they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro.5As for the earth, out of it comes bread, but underneath it is turned up as by fire. (Ps 104:14)6Its stones are the place of sapphires,[1] and it has dust of gold. (Ex 24:10)7“That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it.8The proud beasts have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it. (Job 10:16; Job 41:34)9“Man puts his hand to the flinty rock and overturns mountains by the roots. (De 8:15; De 32:13; Ps 114:8)10He cuts out channels in the rocks, and his eye sees every precious thing.11He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light.12“But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? (Pr 16:16; Ec 7:24)13Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living. (Ps 27:13)14The deep says, ‘It is not in me,’ and the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’ (Ge 49:25)15It cannot be bought for gold, and silver cannot be weighed as its price. (Pr 3:14; Pr 8:10; Pr 8:19; Pr 16:16)16It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. (Ge 2:12; Ex 24:10; 1Ki 9:28; Ps 45:9; Isa 13:12)17Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.18No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls. (Pr 3:15; Pr 8:11; Pr 20:15; Pr 31:10; La 4:7; Eze 27:16)19The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. (Ex 28:17; Ex 39:10; Eze 28:13)20“From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?21It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. (Job 12:10; Job 30:23)22Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’ (Job 26:6)23“God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. (Pr 8:22)24For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. (Pr 15:3; Zec 4:10)25When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, (Ps 135:7)26when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, (Job 38:25)27then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.28And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” (De 4:6; Ps 111:10; Pr 1:7; Pr 3:7; Pr 14:16; Pr 16:6; Ec 12:13)