Job 28:1-19

Common English Bible

28 There is a sure source of silver,
    a place where gold is refined.
² Iron is taken from the earth;
    rock is smelted into copper.
³ Humans^[a] put an end to darkness,
    dig for ore to the farthest depths,
        into stone in utter darkness,
⁴     open a shaft away from any inhabitant,
        places forgotten by those on foot,
        apart from any human they hang and sway.
⁵ Earth—from it comes food—
    is turned over below ground as by fire.^[b]
6 Its rocks are the source for lapis lazuli;
    there is gold dust in it.
⁷ A path—
    no bird of prey knows it;
        a hawk’s eye hasn’t seen it;
⁸     proud beasts haven’t trodden on it;
        a lion hasn’t crossed over it.
⁹ Humans thrust their hands into flint,
        pull up mountains from their roots,
¹⁰     cut channels into rocks;
        their eyes see everything precious.
¹¹ They dam up the sources of rivers;
    hidden things come to light.

¹² But wisdom, where can it be found;
    where is the place of understanding?
¹³ Humankind doesn’t know its value;
    it isn’t found in the land of the living.
¹⁴ The Deep^[c] says, “It’s not with me”;
    the Sea^[d] says, “Not alongside me!”
¹⁵ It can’t be bought with gold;
        its price can’t be measured in silver,
¹⁶     can’t be weighed against gold from Ophir,
        with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
¹⁷ Neither gold nor glass can compare with it;
    she can’t be acquired with gold jewelry.
¹⁸ Coral and jasper shouldn’t be mentioned;
    the price of wisdom is more than rubies.
¹⁹ Cushite topaz won’t compare with her;
    she can’t be set alongside pure gold.