‏ Job 28

The Place Where Wisdom Is Found Is Explained

1There are mines where silver is found.
There are places where gold is purified.
2Iron is taken out of the earth.
Copper is melted down from ore.
3Human beings light up the darkness.
They search for ore in the deepest pits.
They look for it in the blackest darkness.
4Far from where people live they cut a tunnel.
They do it in places where other people don’t go.
Far away from people they swing back and forth on ropes.
5Food grows on the surface of the earth.
But far below, the earth is changed as if by fire.
6Lapis lazuli is taken from the rocky earth.
Its dust contains nuggets of gold.
7No bird knows that hidden path.
No falcon’s eye has seen it.
8Proud animals don’t walk on it.
Lions don’t prowl there.
9Human hands attack the hardest rock.
Their strong hands uncover the base of the mountains.
10They tunnel through the rock.
Their eyes see all its treasures.
11They search the places where the rivers begin.
They bring hidden things out into the light.

12But where can wisdom be found?
Where does understanding live?
13No human being understands how much it’s worth.
It can’t be found anywhere in the world.
14The ocean says, “It’s not in me.”
The sea says, “It’s not here either.”
15It can’t be bought with the finest gold.
Its price can’t be weighed out in silver.
16It can’t be bought with gold from Ophir.
It can’t be bought with priceless onyx or lapis lazuli.
17Gold or crystal can’t compare with it.
It can’t be bought with jewels made of gold.
18Don’t bother to talk about coral and jasper.
Wisdom is worth far more than rubies.
19A topaz from Cush can’t compare with it.
It can’t be bought with the purest gold.

20So where does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding live?
21It’s hidden from the eyes of every living thing.
Even the birds in the sky can’t find it.
22Death and the Grave say,
“Only reports about it have reached our ears.”
23But God understands the way to it.
He is the only one who knows where it lives.
24He sees from one end of the earth to the other.
He views everything in the world.
25He made the mighty wind.
He measured out the waters.
26He gave orders for the rain to fall.
He made paths for the thunderstorms.
27Then he looked at wisdom and set its price.
He established it and tested it.
28He said to human beings,
“Have respect for the Lord. That will prove you are wise.
Avoid evil. That will show you have understanding.”