Job 28

Job Speaks of Wisdom and Understanding

    ¹ “People know where to mine silver
      and how to refine gold.
    ² They know where to dig iron from the earth
      and how to smelt copper from rock.
    ³ They know how to shine light in the darkness
      and explore the farthest regions of the earth
      as they search in the dark for ore.
    ⁴ They sink a mine shaft into the earth
      far from where anyone lives.
      They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.
    ⁵ Food is grown on the earth above,
      but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.
    ⁶ Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli,
      and the dust contains gold.
    ⁷ These are treasures no bird of prey can see,
      no falcon’s eye observe.
    ⁸ No wild animal has walked upon these treasures;
      no lion has ever set his paw there.
    ⁹ People know how to tear apart flinty rocks
      and overturn the roots of mountains.
   ¹⁰ They cut tunnels in the rocks
      and uncover precious stones.
   ¹¹ They dam up the trickling streams
      and bring to light the hidden treasures.

   ¹² “But do people know where to find wisdom?
      Where can they find understanding?
   ¹³ No one knows where to find it,
      for it is not found among the living.
   ¹⁴ ‘It is not here,’ says the ocean.
      ‘Nor is it here,’ says the sea.
   ¹⁵ It cannot be bought with gold.
      It cannot be purchased with silver.
   ¹⁶ It’s worth more than all the gold of Ophir,
      greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
   ¹⁷ Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.
      It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.
   ¹⁸ Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it.
      The price of wisdom is far above rubies.
   ¹⁹ Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it.
      It’s worth more than the purest gold.

   ²⁰ “But do people know where to find wisdom?
      Where can they find understanding?
   ²¹ It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.
      Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.
   ²² Destruction and Death say,
      ‘We’ve heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.’

   ²³ “God alone understands the way to wisdom;
      he knows where it can be found,
   ²⁴ for he looks throughout the whole earth
      and sees everything under the heavens.
   ²⁵ He decided how hard the winds should blow
      and how much rain should fall.
   ²⁶ He made the laws for the rain
      and laid out a path for the lightning.
   ²⁷ Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
      He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
   ²⁸ And this is what he says to all humanity:
   ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
      to forsake evil is real understanding.’”

   ⁴Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

   ⁵Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

   ⁶Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

   ⁷Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

   ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

   ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

   ¹⁰Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

   ¹¹Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.