Job 28

1Truly there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is washed out.

1Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;

2Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone is changed into brass by the fire.

2Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.

3Man puts an end to the dark, searching out to the farthest limit the stones of the deep places of the dark.

3[Man] putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.

4He makes a deep mine far away from those living in the light of day; when they go about on the earth, they have no knowledge of those who are under them, who are hanging far from men, twisting from side to side on a cord.

4He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.

5As for the earth, bread comes out of it; but under its face it is turned up as if by fire.

5As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;

6Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.

6The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.

7No bird has knowledge of it, and the hawk's eye has never seen it.

7It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it;

8The great beasts have not gone over it, and the cruel lion has not taken that way.

8The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it.

9Man puts out his hand on the hard rock, overturning mountains by the roots.

9[Man] putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.

10He makes deep ways, cut through the rock, and his eye sees everything of value.

10He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.

11He keeps back the streams from flowing, and makes the secret things come out into the light.

11He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.

12But where may wisdom be seen? and where is the resting-place of knowledge?

12But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding?

13Man has not seen the way to it, and it is not in the land of the living.

13Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.

14The deep waters say, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.

14The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me.

15Gold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.

15Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.

16It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.

16It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire.

17Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.

17Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.

18There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.

18Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.

19The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.

19The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.

20From where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?

20Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

21For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.

21For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens.

22Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.

22Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears.

23God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place;

23God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:

24For his eyes go to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under heaven.

24For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven.

25When he made a weight for the wind, measuring out the waters;

25In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,

26When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;

26In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:

27Then he saw it, and put it on record; he gave it its fixed form, searching it out completely.

27Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out;

28And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.

28And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.