Job 28
28
Expertise in mining
1There is a sure source of silver,
a place where gold is refined.
2Iron is taken from the earth;
rock is smelted into copper.
3Humans#28.3 Or they put an end to darkness,
dig for ore to the farthest depths,
into stone in utter darkness,
4open a shaft away from any inhabitant,
places forgotten by those on foot,
apart from any human they hang and sway.
5Earth—from it comes food—
is turned over below ground as by fire.#28.5 Heb uncertain
6Its rocks are the source for lapis lazuli;
there is gold dust in it.
7A path—
no bird of prey knows it;
a hawk’s eye hasn’t seen it;
8proud beasts haven’t trodden on it;
a lion hasn’t crossed over it.
9Humans thrust their hands into flint,
pull up mountains from their roots,
10cut channels into rocks;
their eyes see everything precious.
11They dam up the sources of rivers;
hidden things come to light.
Wisdom’s value
12But wisdom, where can it be found;
where is the place of understanding?
13Humankind doesn’t know its value;
it isn’t found in the land of the living.
14The Deep#28.14 Heb Tehom, a reference to a divine being in the grave or underworld says, “It’s not with me”;
the Sea#28.14 Heb Yam, a sea god says, “Not alongside me!”
15It can’t be bought with gold;
its price can’t be measured in silver,
16can’t be weighed against gold from Ophir,
with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17Neither gold nor glass can compare with it;
she can’t be acquired with gold jewelry.
18Coral and jasper shouldn’t be mentioned;
the price of wisdom is more than rubies.
19Cushite topaz won’t compare with her;
she can’t be set alongside pure gold.
20But wisdom, where does she come from?
Where is the place of understanding?
21She’s hidden from the eyes of all the living,
concealed from birds of the sky.
22Destruction#28.22 Heb Abaddon and Death have said,
“We’ve heard a report of her.”
23God understands her way;
he knows her place;
24for he looks to the ends of the earth
and surveys everything beneath the heavens.
25In order to weigh the wind,
to prepare a measure for waters,
26when he made a decree for the rain,
a path for thunderbolts,
27then he observed it, spoke of it,
established it, searched it out,
28and said to humankind: “Look,
the fear of the LORD is wisdom;
turning from evil is understanding.”
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Job 28: CEB
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