2.6 KiB
Job Speaks of Wisdom and Understanding
Chapter 28
- "People know where to mine silver
and how to refine gold.
- They know where to dig iron from the earth
and how to smelt copper from rock.
- They know how to shine light in the darkness
and explore the farthest regions of the earth
as they search in the dark for ore.
- They sink a mine shaft into the earth
far from where anyone lives.
They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.
- Food is grown on the earth above,
but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.
- Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli,
and the dust contains gold.
- These are treasures no bird of prey can see,
no falcon's eye observe.
- No wild animal has walked upon these treasures;
no lion has ever set his paw there.
- People know how to tear apart flinty rocks
and overturn the roots of mountains.
- They cut tunnels in the rocks
and uncover precious stones.
- They dam up the trickling streams
and bring to light the hidden treasures.
- "But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
- No one knows where to find it,
for it is not found among the living.
- 'It is not here,' says the ocean.
'Nor is it here,' says the sea.
- It cannot be bought with gold.
It cannot be purchased with silver.
- It's worth more than all the gold of Ophir,
greater than precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
- Wisdom is more valuable than gold and crystal.
It cannot be purchased with jewels mounted in fine gold.
- Coral and jasper are worthless in trying to get it.
The price of wisdom is far above rubies.
- Precious peridot from Ethiopia cannot be exchanged for it.
It's worth more than the purest gold.
- "But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
- It is hidden from the eyes of all humanity.
Even the sharp-eyed birds in the sky cannot discover it.
- Destruction and Death say,
'We've heard only rumors of where wisdom can be found.'
- "God alone understands the way to wisdom;
he knows where it can be found,
- for he looks throughout the whole earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
- He decided how hard the winds should blow
and how much rain should fall.
- He made the laws for the rain
and laid out a path for the lightning.
- Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
- And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
to forsake evil is real understanding.'"