Jó 28

1 “Existem minas de pratae locais onde se refina ouro.

2 O ferro é extraído da terra,e do minério se funde o cobre.

3 O homem dá fim à escuridãoe vasculha os recônditos mais remotosem busca de minério, nas mais escuras trevas.

4 Longe das moradias ele cava um poço,em local esquecido pelos pés dos homens;longe de todos, ele se pendura e balança.

5 A terra, da qual vem o alimento,é revolvida embaixo como que pelo fogo;

6 das suas rochas saem safiras,e seu pó contém pepitas de ouro.

7 Nenhuma ave de rapina conhece aquele caminho oculto,e os olhos de nenhum falcão o viram.

8 Os animais altivos não põem os pés nele,e nenhum leão ronda por ali.

9 As mãos dos homens atacam a dura rochae transtornam as raízes das montanhas.

10 Fazem túneis através da rocha,e os seus olhos enxergam todos os tesouros dali.

11 Eles vasculham^[a] as nascentes dos riose trazem à luz coisas ocultas.

12 “Onde, porém, se poderá achar a sabedoria?Onde habita o entendimento?

13 O homem não percebe o valor da sabedoria;ela não se encontra na terra dos viventes.

14 O abismo diz: ‘Em mim não está’;o mar diz: ‘Não está comigo’.

15 Não pode ser comprada, mesmo com o ouro mais puro,nem se pode pesar o seu preço em prata.

16 Não pode ser comprada nem com o ouro puro de Ofir,nem com o precioso ônix, nem com safiras.

17 O ouro e o cristal não se comparam com ela,e é impossível tê-la em troca de joias de ouro.

18 O coral e o jaspe nem merecem menção;o preço da sabedoria ultrapassa o dos rubis.

19 O topázio da Etiópia^[b] não se compara com ela;não se compra a sabedoria nem com ouro puro!

20 “De onde vem, então, a sabedoria?Onde habita o entendimento?

21 Escondida está dos olhos de toda criatura viva,até das aves dos céus.

22 A Destruição^[c] e a Morte dizem:‘Aos nossos ouvidos só chegou um leve rumor dela’.

23 Deus conhece o caminho;só ele sabe onde ela habita,

24 pois ele enxerga os confins da terrae vê tudo o que há debaixo dos céus.

25 Quando ele determinou a força do ventoe estabeleceu a medida exata para as águas,

26 quando fez um decreto para a chuvae o caminho para a tempestade trovejante,

27 ele olhou para a sabedoria e a avaliou;confirmou-a e a pôs à prova.

28 Disse então ao homem:‘No temor do Senhor está a sabedoria,e evitar o mal é ter entendimento’.”

Jó 28 Commentary

Chapter 28

Concerning wordly wealth. (1-11) Wisdom is of inestimable value. (12-19) Wisdom is the gift of God. (20-28)

Verses 1-11 Job maintained that the dispensations of Providence were regulated by the highest wisdom. To confirm this, he showed of what a great deal of knowledge and wealth men may make themselves masters. The caverns of the earth may be discovered, but not the counsels of Heaven. Go to the miners, thou sluggard in religion, consider their ways, and be wise. Let their courage and diligence in seeking the wealth that perishes, shame us out of slothfulness and faint-heartedness in labouring for the true riches. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! How much easier, and safer! Yet gold is sought for, but grace neglected. Will the hopes of precious things out of the earth, so men call them, though really they are paltry and perishing, be such a spur to industry, and shall not the certain prospect of truly precious things in heaven be much more so?

Verses 12-19 Job here speaks of wisdom and understanding, the knowing and enjoying of God and ourselves. Its worth is infinitely more than all the riches in this world. It is a gift of the Holy Ghost which cannot be bought with money. Let that which is most precious in God's account, be so in ours. Job asks after it as one that truly desired to find it, and despaired of finding it any where but in God; any way but by Divine revelation.

Verses 20-28 There is a two-fold wisdom; one hid in God, which is secret, and belongs not to us; the other made known by him, and revealed to man. One day's events, and one man's affairs, have such reference to, and so hang one upon another, that He only, to whom all is open, and who sees the whole at one view, can rightly judge of every part. But the knowledge of God's revealed will is within our reach, and will do us good. Let man look upon this as his wisdom, To fear the Lord, and to depart from evil. Let him learn that, and he is learned enough. Where is this wisdom to be found? The treasures of it are hid in Christ, revealed by the word, received by faith, through the Holy Ghost. It will not feed pride or vanity, or amuse our vain curiosity. It teaches and encourages sinners to fear the Lord, and to depart from evil, in the exercise of repentance and faith, without desiring to solve all difficulties about the events of this life.

Footnotes

• [a]. Conforme a Septuaginta e a Vulgata. O Texto Massorético diz "Eles fecham."
• [b]. Hebraico: "Cuxe."
• [c]. Hebraico: "Abadom."

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 28

The design of this chapter is either to show the folly of such who are very diligent in their search and pursuit after earthly things, and neglect an inquiry after that which is infinitely more valuable, true wisdom; or rather to observe, that though things the most secret, and which are hidden in the bowels of the earth, may be investigated and discovered by the sagacity and diligence of men, yet wisdom cannot, especially the wisdom of God in his providences, which are past finding out; and particularly in what concerns the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous; the reason of which men should be content to be ignorant of for the present, and be studious to possess that wisdom which is attainable, and be thankful for it, if they have it; which lies in the fear of the Lord, and a departure from evil, with which this chapter concludes. It begins with setting forth the sagacity of men in searching and finding out useful metals, and other things the earth produces; the difficulty, fatigue, and labour, that attend such a search, and the dangers they are exposed unto in it, Job 28:1-11; then it declares the unsearchableness of wisdom, its superior excellency to things the most valuable, and that it is not to be found by sea or land, or among any of the creatures, Job 28:12-22; and that God only knows its way and place, who has sought it out, prepared and declared it, Job 28:23-27; and that which he has thought fit to make known of it, and is most for his glory and the good of men, is, that it is to fear God, and depart from evil, Job 28:28.