Job 28:12-19

No Price Can Buy Wisdom

12 “But wisdom—where can it be found?
Where is the place of understanding?
13 Mankind does not know its place; ^{▼▼tc The LXX has “its way,” apparently reading דַּרְכָּה (darkah) in place of עֶרְכָּהּ (ʿerkah, “place”). This is adopted by most modern commentators. But R. Gordis (Job, 308) shows that this change is not necessary, for עֶרֶךְ (ʿerekh) in the Bible means “order; row; disposition,” and here “place.” An alternate meaning would be “worth” (NIV, ESV).}
it cannot be found in the land of the living.
14 The deep ^{▼▼sn The תְּהוֹם (tehom) is the “deep” of Gen 1:2, the abyss or primordial sea. It was always understood to be a place of darkness and danger. As remote as it is, it asserts that wisdom is not found there (personification). So here we have the abyss and the sea, then death and destruction—but they are not the places that wisdom resides.} says, ‘It is not with ^{▼▼tn The ב (bet) preposition is taken here to mean “with” in the light of the parallel preposition.} me.’
And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
15 Fine gold cannot be given in exchange for it,
nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
16 It cannot be measured out for purchase ^{▼▼tn The word actually means “weighed,” that is, lifted up on the scale and weighed, in order to purchase.} with the gold of Ophir,
with precious onyx ^{▼▼tn The exact identification of these stones is uncertain. Many recent English translations, however, have “onyx” and “sapphires.”} or sapphires.
17 Neither gold nor crystal ^{▼▼tn The word is from זָכַךְ (zakhakh, “clear”). It describes a transparent substance, and so “glass” is an appropriate translation. In the ancient world it was precious and so expensive.} can be compared with it,
nor can a vase ^{▼▼tc The MT has “vase,” but the versions have a plural here, suggesting jewels of gold.} of gold match its worth.
18 Of coral and jasper no mention will be made;
the price ^{▼▼tn The word מֶשֶׁךְ (meshekh) comes from a root meaning “to grasp; to seize; to hold,” and so the derived noun means “grasping; acquiring; taking possession,” and therefore, “price” (see the discussion in R. Gordis, Job, 309). Gray renders it “acquisition” (so A. Cohen, AJSL 40 [1923/24]: 175).} of wisdom is more than pearls. ^{▼▼tn In Lam 4:7 these are described as red, and so have been identified as rubies (so NIV) or corals.}
19 The topaz of Cush ^{▼▼tn Or “Ethiopia.” In ancient times this referred to the region of the upper Nile, rather than modern Ethiopia (formerly known as Abyssinia).} cannot be compared with it;
it cannot be purchased with pure gold.