Job 28 (Today's New International Version)

Interlude: Where Wisdom Is Found

1 There is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.¹ 2 Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.² 3 Miners put an end to the darkness;³ they search out the farthest recesses for ore in the blackest darkness.⁴ 4 Far from human dwellings they cut a shaft,⁵ in places untouched by human feet; far from other people they dangle and sway. 5 The earth, from which food comes,⁶ is transformed below as by fire; 6 lapis lazuli⁷ comes from its rocks, and its dust contains nuggets of gold.⁸ 7 No bird of prey knows that hidden path, no falcon's eye has seen it.⁹ 8 Proud beasts¹⁰ do not set foot on it, and no lion prowls there.¹¹ 9 The miners' hands assault the flinty rock¹² and lay bare the roots of the mountains.¹³ 10 They tunnel through the rock;¹⁴ their eyes see all its treasures.¹⁵ 11 They search^a the sources of the rivers¹⁶ and bring hidden things¹⁷ to light. 12 But where can wisdom be found?¹⁸ Where does understanding dwell?¹⁹ 13 No mortal comprehends its worth;²⁰ it cannot be found in the land of the living.²¹ 14 The deep²² says, "It is not in me"; the sea²³ says, "It is not with me." 15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.²⁴ 16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,²⁵ with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.²⁶ 17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,²⁷ nor can it be had for jewels of gold.²⁸ 18 Coral²⁹ and jasper³⁰ are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.³¹ 19 The topaz³² of Cush³³ cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.³⁴ 20 Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell?³⁵ 21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.³⁶ 22 Destruction^b37 and Death³⁸ say, "Only a rumor of it has reached our ears." 23 God understands the way to it and he alone³⁹ knows where it dwells,⁴⁰ 24 for he views the ends of the earth⁴¹ and sees everything under the heavens.⁴² 25 When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,⁴³ 26 when he made a decree for the rain⁴⁴ and a path for the thunderstorm,⁴⁵ 27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.⁴⁶ 28 And he said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil⁴⁷ is understanding."⁴⁸