Job 28

New International Version

Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found

28 There is a mine for silver
    and a place where gold is refined.^(A)
²Iron is taken from the earth,
    and copper is smelted from ore.^(B)
³Mortals put an end to the darkness;^(C)
    they search out the farthest recesses
    for ore in the blackest darkness.^(D)
⁴Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,^(E)
    in places untouched by human feet;
    far from other people they dangle and sway.
⁵The earth, from which food comes,^(F)
    is transformed below as by fire;
⁶lapis lazuli^(G) comes from its rocks,
    and its dust contains nuggets of gold.^(H)
⁷No bird of prey knows that hidden path,
    no falcon’s eye has seen it.^(I)
⁸Proud beasts^(J) do not set foot on it,
    and no lion prowls there.^(K)
⁹People assault the flinty rock^(L) with their hands
    and lay bare the roots of the mountains.^(M)
¹⁰They tunnel through the rock;^(N)
    their eyes see all its treasures.^(O)
¹¹They search^[a] the sources of the rivers^(P)
    and bring hidden things^(Q) to light.

¹²But where can wisdom be found?^(R)
    Where does understanding dwell?^(S)
¹³No mortal comprehends its worth;^(T)
    it cannot be found in the land of the living.^(U)
¹⁴The deep^(V) says, “It is not in me”;
    the sea^(W) says, “It is not with me.”
¹⁵It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
    nor can its price be weighed out in silver.^(X)
¹⁶It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,^(Y)
    with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.^(Z)
¹⁷Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,^(AA)
    nor can it be had for jewels of gold.^(AB)
¹⁸Coral^(AC) and jasper^(AD) are not worthy of mention;
    the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.^(AE)
¹⁹The topaz^(AF) of Cush^(AG) cannot compare with it;
    it cannot be bought with pure gold.^(AH)

²⁰Where then does wisdom come from?
    Where does understanding dwell?^(AI)
²¹It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
    concealed even from the birds in the sky.^(AJ)
²²Destruction^[b]^(AK) and Death^(AL) say,
    “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
²³God understands the way to it
    and he alone^(AM) knows where it dwells,^(AN)
²⁴for he views the ends of the earth^(AO)
    and sees everything under the heavens.^(AP)
²⁵When he established the force of the wind
    and measured out the waters,^(AQ)
²⁶when he made a decree for the rain^(AR)
    and a path for the thunderstorm,^(AS)
²⁷then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
    he confirmed it and tested it.^(AT)
²⁸And he said to the human race,
    “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
    and to shun evil^(AU) is understanding.”^(AV)