Job 28:1-21 ▼

1 “Surely there is a source for silver, || And a place for the gold they refine;

2 Iron is taken from the dust, || And bronze [from] the firm stone.

3 He has set an end to darkness, || And he is searching to all perfection, || A stone of darkness and death-shade.

4 A stream has broken out from a sojourner, || Those forgotten of the foot, || They were low, they wandered from man.

5 The earth! Bread comes forth from it, || And its under-part is turned like fire.

6 A place of the sapphire [are] its stones, || And it has dust of gold.

7 A path—a ravenous bird has not known it, || Nor has an eye of the falcon scorched it,

8 Nor have the sons of pride trodden it, || The fierce lion has not passed over it.

9 He sent forth his hand against the flint, || He overturned mountains from the root.

10 Among rocks, he has cleaved brooks, || And his eye has seen every precious thing.

11 He has bound overflowing rivers, || And the hidden thing brings out [to] light.

12 And the wisdom—from where is it found? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?

13 Man has not known its arrangement, || Nor is it found in the land of the living.

14 The deep has said, It [is] not in me, || And the sea has said, It is not with me.

15 Gold is not given for it, || Nor is silver weighed—its price.

16 It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, || With precious onyx and sapphire,

17 Gold and crystal do not equal it, || Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.

18 Corals and pearl are not remembered, || The acquisition of wisdom [is] above rubies.

19 The topaz of Cush does not equal it, || It is not valued with pure gold.

20 And the wisdom—from where does it come? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?

21 It has been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the bird of the heavens || It has been hidden.