Job 28

1 For there is a place for the silver, whence it comes, and a place for the gold, whence it is refined.

2 For iron comes out of the earth, and brass is hewn out like stone.

3 He has set a bound to darkness, and he searches out every limit: a stone darkness, and the shadow of death.

4 There is a cutting off the torrent by reason of dust: so they that forget the right way are weakened; they are removed from men.

5 the earth, out of it shall come bread: under it has been turned up as it were fire.

6 Her stones are the place of the sapphire: and dust man with gold.

7 a path, the fowl has not known it, neither has the eye of the vulture seen it:

8 neither have the sons of the proud trodden it, a lion has not passed upon it.

9 He has stretched forth his hand on the sharp , and turned up mountains by the roots:

10 and he has interrupted the whirlpools of rivers, and mine eye has seen every precious thing.

11 And he has laid bare the depths of rivers, and has brought his power to light.

12 But whence has wisdom been discovered? and what is the place of knowledge?

13 A mortal has not known its way, neither indeed has it been discovered among men.

14 The depth said, It is not in me: and the sea said, It is not with me.

15 One shall not give fine gold instead of it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.

16 Neither shall it be compared with gold of Sophir, with the precious onyx and sapphire.

17 Gold and crystal shall not be equalled to it, neither shall vessels of gold be its exchange.

18 Coral and fine pearl shall not be mentioned: but do thou esteem wisdom above the most precious things.

19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equalled to it; it shall not be compared with pure gold.

20 Whence then is wisdom found? and of what kind is the place of understanding?

21 It has escaped the notice of every man, and has been hidden from the birds of the sky.

22 Destruction and Death said, We have heard the report of it.

23 God has well ordered the way of it, and he knows the place of it.

24 For he surveys the whole under heaven, knowing the things in the earth:

25 all that he has made; the weight of the winds, the measures of the water.

26 When he made , thus he saw and numbered them, and made a way for the pealing of the thunder.

27 Then he saw it, and declared it: he prepared it traced it out.

28 And he said to man, Behold, godliness is wisdom: and to abstain from evil is understanding.

Job 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.

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.