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Expertise in mining

28 There is a sure source of silver,
    a place where gold is refined.
Iron is taken from the earth;
    rock is smelted into copper.
Humans[a] put an end to darkness,
    dig for ore to the farthest depths,
        into stone in utter darkness,
    open a shaft away from any inhabitant,
        places forgotten by those on foot,
        apart from any human they hang and sway.
Earth—from it comes food—
    is turned over below ground as by fire.[b]
Its rocks are the source for lapis lazuli;
    there is gold dust in it.
A path—
    no bird of prey knows it;
        a hawk’s eye hasn’t seen it;
    proud beasts haven’t trodden on it;
        a lion hasn’t crossed over it.
Humans thrust their hands into flint,
        pull up mountains from their roots,
10     cut channels into rocks;
        their eyes see everything precious.
11 They dam up the sources of rivers;
    hidden things come to light.

Wisdom’s value

12 But wisdom, where can it be found;
    where is the place of understanding?
13 Humankind doesn’t know its value;
    it isn’t found in the land of the living.
14 The Deep[c] says, “It’s not with me”;
    the Sea[d] says, “Not alongside me!”
15 It can’t be bought with gold;
        its price can’t be measured in silver,
16     can’t be weighed against gold from Ophir,
        with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17 Neither gold nor glass can compare with it;
    she can’t be acquired with gold jewelry.
18 Coral and jasper shouldn’t be mentioned;
    the price of wisdom is more than rubies.
19 Cushite topaz won’t compare with her;
    she can’t be set alongside pure gold.
20 But wisdom, where does she come from?
    Where is the place of understanding?
21 She’s hidden from the eyes of all the living,
    concealed from birds of the sky.
22 Destruction[e] and Death have said,
    “We’ve heard a report of her.”
23 God understands her way;
        he knows her place;
24     for he looks to the ends of the earth
        and surveys everything beneath the heavens.
25 In order to weigh the wind,
        to prepare a measure for waters,
26     when he made a decree for the rain,
        a path for thunderbolts,
27     then he observed it, spoke of it,
            established it, searched it out,
28     and said to humankind: “Look,
        the fear of the Lord is wisdom;
            turning from evil is understanding.”

Job’s previous blessing

29 Job took up his subject again:

Oh, that life was like it used to be,
        like days when God watched over me;
    when his lamp shone on my head,
        I walked by his light in the dark;
    when I was in my prime;
        when God’s counsel was in my tent;
    when the Almighty was with me,
        my children around me;
    when my steps were washed with cream
        and a rock poured out pools of oil for me.

Previous honor

When I went out to the city gate,
        took my seat in the square,
    the young saw me and drew back;
        the old rose and stood;
    princes restrained speech,
        put their hand on their mouth;
10     the voices of officials were hushed,
        their tongue stuck to their palate.

Job’s implementation of justice

11 Indeed, the ear that heard blessed me;
        the eye that looked commended me,
12     because I rescued the weak who cried out,
        the orphans who lacked help.
13 The blessing of the perishing reached me;
    I made the widow’s heart sing;
14 I put on justice, and it clothed me,
    righteousness as my coat and turban;
15 I was eyes to the blind,
    feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy;
    the case I didn’t know, I examined.
17 I shattered the fangs of the wicked,
    rescued prey from their teeth.

Job’s expected blessing

18 I thought, I’ll die in my nest,
        multiply days like sand,[f]
19     my roots opening to water,
        dew lingering on my branches,
20     my honor newly with me,
        my bow ever successful in my hand.

Previous honor

21 People listened to me and waited,
    were silent for my advice.
22 After my speech, they didn’t respond.
    My words fell gently on them;
23         they waited for me as for rain,
        opened their mouth as for spring rain.
24 I smiled[g] on them; they couldn’t believe it.
    They never showed me disfavor.
25 I decided their path, sat as chief.
    I lived like a king with his troops,
        like one who comforts mourners.

Footnotes

  1. Job 28:3 Or they
  2. Job 28:5 Heb uncertain
  3. Job 28:14 Heb Tehom, a reference to a divine being in the grave or underworld
  4. Job 28:14 Heb Yam, a sea god
  5. Job 28:22 Heb Abaddon
  6. Job 29:18 Heb uncertain
  7. Job 29:24 Or laughed at

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