Job 28; Job 29

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Job 28

1 "There are mines where silver is found. There are places where gold is purified.

2 Iron is taken out of the earth. Copper is melted down from ore.

3 A miner lights up the darkness. He searches for ore in the deepest pits. He looks for it in the blackest darkness.

4 Far from where people live he cuts a tunnel. He does it in places where others don't go. Far away from people he swings back and forth on ropes.

5 Food grows on the surface of the earth. But far below, the earth is changed as if by fire.

6 Sapphires are taken from its rocks. Its dust contains nuggets of gold.

7 No bird knows the miner's hidden path. No falcon's eye has seen it.

8 Proud animals don't walk on it. Lions don't prowl there.

9 The miner attacks the hardest rock. His strong hands uncover the base of the mountains.

10 He tunnels through the rock. His eyes see all of its treasures.

11 He searches the places where the rivers begin. He brings hidden things out into the light.

12 "And where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding live?

13 No one knows how much it's worth. It can't be found anywhere in the world.

14 The ocean says, 'It's not in me.' The sea says, 'It's not here either.'

15 It can't be bought with the finest gold. Its price can't be weighed out in silver.

16 It can't be bought with gold from Ophir. It can't be bought with priceless onyx or sapphires.

17 Gold or crystal can't compare with it. It can't be bought with jewels made of gold.

18 Don't bother to talk about coral and jasper. Wisdom is worth far more than rubies.

19 A topaz from Cush can't compare with it. It can't be bought with the purest gold.

20 "So where does wisdom come from? Where does understanding live?

21 It's hidden from the eyes of every living thing. Even the birds of the air can't find it.

22 Death and the Grave say, 'Only reports about it have reached our ears.'

23 But God understands the way to it. He's the only one who knows where it lives.

24 He sees from one end of the earth to the other. He views everything in the world.

25 He made the mighty wind. He measured out the waters.

26 He gave orders for the rain to fall. He made paths for the thunderstorms.

27 Then he looked at wisdom and set its price. He established it and put it to the test.

28 He said to human beings, 'Have respect for me. That will prove you are wise. Avoid evil. That will show you have understanding.' "

Job 29

1 Job continued to speak. He said,

2 "How I long for the good old days! That's when God watched over me.

3 The light of his lamp shone on me. I walked through darkness by his light.

4 Those were the best days of my life. That's when God's friendship blessed my house.

5 The Mighty One was still with me. My children were all around me.

6 The path in front of me was like sweet cream. It was as if the rock poured out olive oil for me.

7 "In those days I went to the city gate. I took my seat as a member of the council.

8 Young people who saw me stepped to one side. Old people stood up as I approached.

9 The leaders stopped speaking. They covered their mouths with their hands.

10 The voices of the nobles became quiet. Their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

11 Everyone who heard me said good things about me. Those who saw me honored me.

12 That's because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.

13 Those who were dying gave me their blessing. I made the hearts of widows sing.

14 I put on a godly life as if it were my clothes. Fairness was my robe and my turban.

15 I was like eyes for those who were blind. I was like feet for those who couldn't walk.

16 I was like a father to needy people. I stood up for strangers in court.

17 Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.

18 "I thought, 'I'll die in my own house. The days of my life will be as many as the grains of sand.

19 My roots will reach down to the water. The dew will lie all night on my branches.

20 I will remain healthy and strong. My bow will stay as good as new in my hand.'

21 "People wanted to hear what I had to say. They waited silently for the advice I gave them.

22 After I had spoken, they didn't speak anymore. My words fell gently on their ears.

23 They waited for me just as they would wait for showers. They drank my words just as they would drink the spring rain.

24 When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it. The light of my face lifted their spirits.

25 I chose the way they should go. I sat as their chief. I lived as a king lives among his troops. I was like someone who comforts those who are sad.

Job 28; Job 29

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Job 28

Job 29