Job 28

₁There are mines where silver is dug;

There are places where gold is refined.

₂Miners dig iron out of the ground

And melt copper out of the stones.

₃They explore the deepest darkness.

They search the depths of the earth

And dig for rocks in the darkness.

₄Far from where anyone lives

Or human feet ever travel,

They dig the shafts of mines.

There they work in loneliness,

Clinging to ropes in the pits.

₅Food grows out of the earth,

But underneath the same earth

All is torn up and crushed.

₆The stones of the earth contain sapphires,

And its dust contains gold.

₇No hawk sees the roads to the mines,

And no vulture ever flies over them.

₈No lion or other fierce beast

Ever travels those lonely roads.

₉Miners dig the hardest rocks,

Dig mountains away at their base.

₁₀As they tunnel through the rocks,

They discover precious stones.

₁₁They dig to the sources of rivers

And bring to light what is hidden.

₁₂But where can wisdom be found?

Where can we learn to understand?

₁₃Wisdom is not to be found among mortals;

No one knows its true value.

₁₄The depths of the oceans and seas

Say that wisdom is not found there.

₁₅It cannot be bought with silver or gold.

₁₆The finest gold and jewels

Cannot equal its value.

₁₇It is worth more than gold,

Than a gold vase or finest glass.

₁₈The value of wisdom is more

Than coral or crystal or rubies.

₁₉The finest topaz and the purest gold

Cannot compare with the value of wisdom.

₂₀Where, then, is the source of wisdom?

Where can we learn to understand?

₂₁No living creature can see it,

Not even a bird in flight.

₂₂Even death and destruction

Admit they have heard only rumours.

₂₃God alone knows the way,

Knows the place where wisdom is found,

₂₄Because he sees the ends of the earth,

Sees everything under the sky.

₂₅When God gave the wind its power

And determined the size of the sea;

₂₆When God decided where the rain would fall,

And the path that the thunderclouds travel;

₂₇It was then he saw wisdom and tested its worth —

He gave it his approval.

₂₈God said to human beings,

“To be wise, you must have reverence for the Lord.

To understand, you must turn from evil.”